British Missions around the Gulf, 1575-2005 : Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, Oman

Recent events have once again focused international attention on the volatile politics of the Gulf region.

This new book, by three former British ambassadors, all with long service in the region, demonstrates the importance of the Gulf for Britain from the days of Elizabeth I to the present.

It tells the story, through the life and work of the British diplomats and consuls and the missions in which they worked, of Britain's involvement, first for trade and later for strategic purposes, in four key regional states.

With wit and insight, the book traces the origins of today's problems from the Ottoman and Persian empires to the 1991 Gulf War and its aftermath.

Those who know the region will find this a refreshing new slant on an old story, while those new to the subject will enjoy the mixture of politics and personalities ably described and analysed.