Anglo-American Rivalry in the Middle East Discussed at Qatar National Library

Press release

Published December 11th, 2018 - 06:28 GMT

The lecture was held in collaboration with the British Council and the British Embassy in Qatar, as part of 2018 Qatar British Festival.

A public lecture focusing on the historical Anglo-American rivalry in the Middle East was held today at Qatar National Library. James Barr, a leading historian of the modern Middle East, presented insights from his book entitled Lords of the Desert. Dr James Onley, Director of Historical Research and Partnerships at Qatar National Library and an expert on the subject, introduced the event and answered questions from the audience.

Mr. Barr brought to light the little-known story of the struggle between Britain and America to dominate the post-war Middle East, following the battle of El Alamein that took place in 1942. The lecture was held in collaboration with the British Council and the British Embassy in Qatar, as part of 2018 Qatar British Festival.

The author, who is a visiting fellow at King’s College London, donated multiple copies of his book to the Library’s main collection.

Background Information

Qatar National Library

Qatar National Library acts as a steward of Qatar’s national heritage by collecting, preserving and making available the country’s recorded history. In its role as a research library with a preeminent heritage library, the Library fosters and promotes greater global insight into the history and culture of the Gulf region. As a public library, we provide equal access for all of Qatar's residents to an environment that supports creativity, independent decision-making, and cultural development. Through all our functions, we provide leadership to the country’s library and cultural heritage sector.