UPDATED SECOND EDITION

More than fifty years after his death, Gamal Abd-al-Nasser continues to influence the Arab world. As one of the young officers who overthrew British-backed King Farouk in 1952, Nasser rose to prominence as a charismatic visionary who challenged foreign dominance. At just 36 years old, he became the undisputed leader of Egypt in a presidency that would run from 1956 to 1970.

This insightful biography delves into Nasser’s life, charting his rise to power, his nationalisation of the Suez Canal and his turbulent years as president. Many in the Arab world celebrate his defiance of colonial rule and his dream of Arab unity, but Nasser’s legacy is not without its contradictions; critics have alluded, for instance, to his autocratic rule and unfulfilled promises. In Nasser, Anne Alexander explores the tension between Nasser’s revolutionary ideas and the reality of his governance, offering a nuanced portrait of one of the most complex figures of the modern Middle East.

Anne Alexander is a researcher specialising on leadership, collective action and social movements in the Middle East. She has written for Middle East International and has worked for the BBC World Service. She is currently Learning Director of the Cambridge Digital Humanities network at the University of Cambridge.