The House of Saud

by David Holden and Richard Johns

Book Overview

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• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0330268341
• ISBN13: 9780330268349
• Release Date: January 1982
• Publisher: Pan Macmillan
• Length: 608 Pages
• Weight: 0.70 lbs.

Customer Reviews

A classic account of the creation of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia...

David Holden was murdered in Egypt in December, 1977, while this book was still a work in progress, and it was later finished by Richard Johns. Both are journalists, in the best sense of the profession, and both have done an outstanding job meticulously researching the origins of the present Saudi state. Some say that Holden pried too deeply, and that is why he was murdered, others ascribe his death to a case of mistaken identity; almost certainly the truth will never be known. Certainly his death is part of the reason why this book is now relatively "obscure," despite the fact that it is a very rare, and much needed account of the Kingdom's creation. There is one other book that also does an excellent job in covering this same period - from the first recorded origins of the Saudi family, through 1980 - Robert Lacey's "The Kingdom." I've read them both, compared them both, and although they differ on such matters as Abdul Aziz's age when he re-took Riyadh in 1902, I cannot say which one is better - either is an essential book for those seeking an understanding and more knowledge on the creation of the Saudi state; to read both is also highly recommended for any Westerner who believes a better understanding is the first step towards ending the current policy of conducting endless war. The book contains some excellent, straightforward maps that illustrate how and when Abdul Aziz consolidated the present country, as well as where the major oil fields are. There are also numerous photographs of the principal characters. Holden & Johns' writing style is crisp and methodical. The characters and events reflect the sweeping panorama of the country. Each chapter commences with a highly appropriate epigraph, either from one of the principal actors, or from the wider field of knowledge, to underscore how these specifics tie into the broader human experience. In contrasting the weighting given to various periods in the history of the latest rise of the House of Saud, 40% of Lacey's book involved covering the events in the peninsula prior to the creation of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in 1932; in Holden & Johns' book, this period is covered in 20% of the book. So much of the West's perceptions of the Kingdom are received through intermediaries who promote a fantasy view. One of the most well-read, and famous, is T. E. Lawrence. Other historians, such as David Fromkin, in his excellent book, "A Peace to End All Peace," have made the point that telling the truth was not among Lawrence's virtues. Holden and John confirm the same position, contrasting Lawrence with Harry St. John Philby, stating: "Where Lawrence wove spells of fantasy and imagination, Philby was all for bluntness. Where Lawrence wrought his wartime work into an exquisite, evocative and, it seems, partly fanciful tale of desert loves, betrayals and derring-do, Philby set about his great work of exploration with meticulous method and scrupulous regard for fact..." (p 65) Of course, there

To understand Saudi Arabia

This book is a really excellent source for anyone wanting to understand the reasons that Saudi Arabia is the way it is today. I was lucky to find my copy in a used bookstore. It does get a little tedious when discussing the business/oil aspects of the 1960's and 70's, but it's well worth it. It's a detailed history from start until publishing and that is definitely a relevant time.

The House of Saud of Saudi Arabia.

For those interested in how this country came into being, this is a great book. I never thought that the history of this country is relatively new. The House of Saud ruled the region of the Nejed. They dispossesed the House of Rasheed through the use of a fundamentalist Islamic religion called Wahhabism. Then they conquered the Hejez, ruled by the Hashemites. The leader of the Nejed was Ibn Saud. He lived a long and fruitful life, having over 50 sons (no mention of daughters though). When he died in 1953, his sons took over and haved ruled since. The current sovereign Abdullah is one of his oldest. For those interested in the current situation in the Middle East, this explains much. The export of this fundamentalist strain of Islam called Wahhabism is now plaguing the world with terror. Since the House of Saud has cultivated this strain, they have much to be responsible for in the current terror situation (including 9/11). The original author of the first ten chapters was murdered in Egypt and one wonders if it was as a result of writing this book. This is a very informative as well as long book. It describes much of the internal politics of Saudi Arabia. Since this was published in the early 1980s, it is a little dated.

From Nomads to Moguls

When I opened this book and read that the author was murdered in Cairo before finishing it, I began to get an idea of what I was getting into. Holden, a writer for the London Times, chronicles the rise of the Saudi Royal family beginning with the seizure of power by Ibn Saud in 1901. Many people neglect to position North African and the Middle East in World War II, but Holden recognizes how conflicts in these regions continue to be a problem today. Churchill carved up Kuwait, inciting future Iraqi aggression, and John Foster Dulles hobnobbed with the slick prince Feisal. Feisal was seen most recently in a picture in the New Yorker chatting it up with Muhammed Bin Laden, father of you know who, back in the `50's. Cars, planes, diamonds, Aristotle Onanasis, the Suez canal. To understand the role of the Saudis in world events is complicated, and Holden's book is often dry with details. His sense of humor saves him, describing incidents where Ibn Saud's successor is hospitalized and insists on making love to one of his wives in his hospital bed, assisted by several others. Better for academics and scholars than the average reader, this book is nonetheless accessible to those willing to look. Holden includes many vivid photographs of the sheiks posing with awkward executives and oil prospectors.