‘An excellent political history of Libya…engaging.’

– Irish Times

‘Of all the books on Libya, Bruce St John’s is easily the most comprehensive and approachable.’

– Washington Post

‘A timely and necessary book…fluid in its writing and measured in its judgements.’

– New Internationalist

‘Excellent… accessible, informative and presented with clarity… You won't find a much better overview of Libya than this.’

– Herald

‘An excellent general overview, accessible, informative and presented with clarity… Until the secret archives in Tripoli have been raked over, you won’t find a much better overview of Libya than this.’

– Libya Herald

‘An excellent and concise history of this complex country.’

– George Joffé, Centre of International Studies, Cambridge University

‘Ronald Bruce St John is a committed scholar of Libya…his book offers the measured and confident tone of someone deeply familiar with the subject matter.’

– Richard Phelps, Quilliam Foundation, Journal of North African Studies

‘An excellent account of Libya’s often contentious history: clear, concise, accurate and balanced. It will be the best general work on the country available for the foreseeable future, very useful to anyone interested in the country.’

– Lisa Anderson, James T. Shotwell Professor Emerita of International Relations, Columbia University

‘For the general reader as well as for those with a good level of knowledge of Libya, there is perhaps no one better situated to...explain the country’s current and future dilemmas than Ronald Bruce St John…[an] admirable history.’

– Diederik Vandewalle, International Affairs

‘Rich in historical detail...containing rare insights into Libyan leader Qaddafi’s thinking, particularly on foreign affairs. Indispensable for every serious student of Libya or North Africa.’

– Michele Dunne, Director and Senior Fellow, Middle East Program, Carnegie Endowment for International Peace

‘An outstanding book...the best short history of Libya. St John has made us accustomed to first-rate analyses of Libya; this book is no exception and no students of Libya, from undergraduates to experts, could afford not to have it on their shelves.’

– Yahia H. Zoubir, Professor of International Relations and International Management, and Director of Research in Geopolitics, Euromed Management, Marseille School of Management