The Story of the Arab Legion (The Life of Glubb Pasha)

By John Bagot Glubb and Brigadier John. Glubb

Book Overview

A fascinating personal account of the development of the Arab Legion as a formidable fighting force from the 1930s to the Second World War.

This is the perfect read for fans of T. E. Lawrence, James Lunt, Graham Jevon, and Eugene Rogan.

In 1921 the Trans-Jordan Arab Legion became the successor to the Arab Army famously established by T. E. Lawrence and Amir Feisal in the First World War. Originally established as a police force to keep order amongst the tribes, the legion was financed by Britain and commanded by British officers. It was in 1930 that author John Bagot Glubb joined the legion as one of just a few of these officers under the command by Peake Pasha.

This is Glubb's vividly personal and affectionate account of his time with the Arab Legion, whom he commanded as 'Glubb Pasha' from 1939 to 1956. During this time the Arab force is transformed from a few Bedouin recruits to the best trained force in the Arab world.

Being thoroughly immersed in desert life and with a deep affinity with the Bedouin tribes and Arab peoples, Glubb is uniquely able to express the joy, hardships, frustration and pride he experiences through years of training, operations and negotiations that lead up to supporting the Allied cause during the Second World War.

'Glubb Pasha tells his exhilarating story of adventure and achievement - a story made more vivid by a real gift for the portrayal of the desert scene, ... many revealing little anecdotes and excursions into history. I find it entrancing.' - General Sir John Burnett-Stuart, Sunday Times

'Informative, adventurous, comprehensive and modest. A stimulating, curiously moving book.' - Harold Nicolson, Daily Telegraph

'A story crowded with living men, exciting scenes, daring expeditions, desolate and majestic landscapes. The prose rises naturally to a simple nobility when swayed by a mood or a scene.' - Sir John Squire, Illustrated London News

'If one wanted to have an idea of what the Arabs are today from a single book, this would be the book to choose.' - Edward Shanks, Daily Graphic

'Tells for the first time his own story of the modern corps d' lite of Arab soldiers - the 10,000 strong Arab Legion of the Trans-Jordan' - Graham Stanford, Daily Mail

'Not only richly informative, but most readable.' - Howard Spring, Sunday Graphic

'A fascinating book.' - The Daily Telegraph

'He writes of the Bedouin with that inspiration which the desert seems to give to Englishmen who penetrate its mysteries.' - The Scotsma

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: B0GF24RT7K
• ISBN13: 9798292730644
• Release Date: January 2026
• Publisher: Independently published
• Length: 397 Pages
• Weight: 1.17 lbs.
• Dimensions: 9.0" x 0.9" x 6.0"