Nasser: Life & Times

A nuanced portrait of one of the most complex figures of the Middle East, Gamal Abd al-Nasser.

More than fifty years after his death, Gamal Abd al-Nasser remains a towering figure in the Arab world. As one of the young officers who overthrew British-backed King Farouk in Egypt in 1952, Nasser rose to prominence as a charismatic visionary who challenged foreign dominance. At just thirty-six years old, he became the undisputed leader of Egypt in a presidency that would run from 1956 to 1970.

This insightful biography, in its second edition and featuring a new introduction from the author, delves into the life of Nasser, charting his rise to power, his nationalization of the Suez Canal, and his turbulent years as president. Many in the Arab World celebrate Nasser for his defiance of colonial rule and his dream of Arab unity. However, his legacy is not without its contradictions. Critics have alluded, for instance, to his autocratic rule and unfulfilled promises. In Nasser, Anne Alexander explores this tension between Nasser’s revolutionary ideas and the reality of his governance.