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Levant

Splendour and Catastrophe on the Mediterranean
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( 360 ratings, 50 reviews)
Book Hero Magic crafted this summary to help describe this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Summary
Levant by Philip Mansel delves into the complex history of three influential Mediterranean cities: Smyrna, Alexandria, and Beirut. The book explores their evolution from vibrant, multicultural trading hubs to the challenges they faced through political, social, and cultural transformations. Mansel vividly portrays the cities' cosmopolitan pasts, highlighting their roles as crossroads of civilisation and centres of exchange between East and West.
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Format: Paperback / softback
$3699
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Book Hero Magic created this recommendation. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! IS THIS YOUR NEXT READ?

This book may appeal to you if you are fascinated by the vibrant histories of three key Levantine citiesβ€”Smyrna, Alexandria, and Beirutβ€”each rich with complex cultural and commercial connections. Philip Mansel delves into the past and present of these port cities, exploring how interactions among various cultures have shaped their unique identities, offering a compelling journey for those interested in the intertwined narratives of history and society.

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The first English-language history of the Levant in the modern age

The first English-language history of the Levant in the modern age

Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Description

Levant is a book of cities. It describes Smyrna, Alexandria, and Beirut when they were windows on the world, escapes from nationality and tradition, centres of wealth, pleasure, and freedom.

Using unpublished family papers, Philip Mansel describes their colourful, contradictory history, from the beginning of the French alliance with the Ottoman Empire in the sixteenth century to their decline in the mid-twentieth century. Smyrna was burnt; Alexandria Egyptianised; Beirut lacerated by civil war.

Book Hero Magic summarised reviews for this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! HOW HAS THIS BEEN REVIEWED?

Levant by Philip Mansel receives high praise for its vivid storytelling and scholarly depth. Reviewers commend his intricate knowledge of the region's history and culture, as well as his evocative descriptions of cities like Smyrna, Alexandria, and Beirut. The book's engaging narrative and insightful analysis of nationalism and coexistence make it a recommended read for those interested in Middle Eastern history.

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Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9780719567087

Publisher: John Murray Press

Format: Paperback / softback

Date Published: 29 September 2011

Country: United Kingdom

Imprint: John Murray Publishers Ltd

Illustration: b&w photos and line drawings

Audience: General / adult

DIMENSIONS

Spine width: 31.0mm

Width: 131.0mm

Height: 198.0mm

Weight: 344g

Pages: 480

About the Author

Philip Mansel is a historian of France and the Ottoman Empire. He has written histories of Constantinople and nineteenth-century Paris, as well as biographies of Louis XVIII and the Prince de Ligne. Six of his books have been translated into French. He writes for the Art Newspaper, the Times Literary Supplement and The Spectator. While writing Levant, he lived in Beirut and Istanbul.

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