{"title":"James Montague","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eJames Montague\u003c\/strong\u003e crafts gripping narratives that dive deep into the world of sports, blending insightful analysis with compelling storytelling. His works explore the passions, politics, and personalities behind the games, offering readers a richly detailed perspective on the sporting landscape.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eFrom intense rivalries to the cultural impact of sports, Montague's writing captures the drama and emotion at play both on and off the field. Expect thoughtful reflections that go beyond the scoreboard, illuminating the broader human stories within sport.\u003c\/p\u003e","products":[{"product_id":"engulfed-by-james-montague-9781785121623","title":"Engulfed","description":"\u003cdiv class=\"book-description\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIn 2034, Saudi Arabia will host the men's FIFA World Cup and mark the culmination of Mohammed bin Salman's ambitious plan to modernise Saudi Arabia, a kingdom of unfathomable wealth at the heart of the Islamic world, which is only now emerging from nearly a century of self-isolation. How did we get here? Why would a country spend tens of billions of dollars, perhaps even hundreds of billions in the long run, to buy and control sport?\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eEngulfed\u003c\/em\u003e is a story about ambition, family rivalries, extreme wealth, power, murder and disinformation. It is also the story of dictatorship, political corruption and, at its root, how sport—football, yes, but also golf, boxing and even e-sports—became a vital geopolitical tool for Saudi Arabia.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eAn examination of soft power and manipulation in the 21st century, \u003cem\u003eEngulfed\u003c\/em\u003e charts the rise of Mohammed bin Salman from a then unknown prince to the Kingdom's de facto ruler. It explores his desperate efforts to buy Newcastle United, subvert FIFA and conquer the PGA tour, whilst leaning on political figures in the British and American political establishment along the way from Boris Johnson to Donald Trump.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eDrawing on Montague's exclusive first-hand interviews from his extensive travels across Saudi Arabia, the US, the north-east of England, Spain, Turkey and beyond, \u003cem\u003eEngulfed\u003c\/em\u003e uncovers how the House of Saud zeroed in on the political power of sport, using it both as a powerful political tool of influence and as a way to rectify the PR damage caused by one of the most infamous assassinations in history: the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Allen \u0026 Unwin","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":47424086671596,"sku":"9781785121623","price":39.99,"currency_code":"NZD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0705\/7784\/8556\/files\/9781785121623.jpg?v=1774769195"}],"url":"https:\/\/bookhero.co.nz\/collections\/james-montague.oembed","provider":"Book Hero","version":"1.0","type":"link"}