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Sultan : the remarkable story of a man and a nation

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Sultan is one of the most remarkable and compelling books ever written about the Arab world.

It is a revealing biography of Sultan Qaboos, who brought about some of the most dramatic changes experienced by any country in recent decades by rescuing it from its Dark Ages existence.

Oman was once among the most backward countries in the world: its citizens were forbidden to travel, anything that smacked of the Western world was prohibited and foreigners were barred from crossing its borders.

In 1970, however, a young man who had been a Scottish soldier emerged as the saviour of the nation when he swept the country's ancient ways aside.

Oman soon became the envy of its Arab neighbours and was transformed into one of the most liberal countries in the Middle East.Qaboos's father had previously kept him under virtual house arrest in a remote part of Oman fearing that, given the chance, his son would try to bring about the reforms that many felt the country desperately needed.

Qaboos confirmed his father's fears in July 1970 when his dramatic, bloodless coup sent the former Sultan into exile.

Sultan tells the full story of the amazing events which led up to the overnight takeover of Oman and the war Qaboos subsequently led against communist insurgents, one which would witness a historic military event: the last-ever battle for a desert fort.

The book also recounts the history of the country which is one of the most ancient civilisations in the Middle East, the home of the legendary Queen of Sheba and Sinbad, and from where the Three Wise Men set off for Palestine.In more recent times, it was to be one of the most powerful nations of the region with its own colonies in Persia, India and Africa.

Oman also had its notorious years when its merchants and adventurers were at the centre of the horrific slave trade, supplying millions of captured souls to the British, Dutch and Americans.

Sultan reveals in full detail those buccaneering years of the Omani colonists and their rule in East Africa.

It also tells what it was like for Qaboos as a young Arab prince to experience life as a schoolboy in Britain, charting the years he spent training at Sandhurst under one of the most legendary sergeant majors in the British Army.

Sultan also includes candid contributions from many fellow Cameronians - the legendary Scottish regiment in which Qaboos once served - who vividly recall their experiences with the young officer they knew as 'Second Lieutenant bin Said'.

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Product Details
Mainstream
1840189533 / 9781840189537
Hardback
English
272 p. : ill. (some col.)
24 cm
general Learn More
Published in Scotland.