Title
Parting the Desert: The Creation of the Suez Canal,New
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Awardwinning historian Zachary Karabell tells the epic story of the greatest engineering feat of the nineteenth centurythe building of the Suez Canal and shows how it changed the world.The dream was a waterway that would unite the East and the West, and the ambitious, energetic French diplomat and entrepreneur Ferdinand de Lesseps was the mastermind behind the project. Lesseps saw the project through fifteen years of financial challenges, technical obstacles, and political intrigues. He convinced ordinary French citizens to invest their money, and he won the backing of Napoleon III and of Egypt's prince Muhammad Said. But the triumph was far from perfect: the construction relied heavily on forced labor and technical and diplomatic obstacles constantly threatened completion. The inauguration in 1869 captured the imagination of the world. The Suez Canal was heralded as a symbol of progress that would unite nations, but its legacy is mixed. Parting the Desert is both a transporting narrative and a meditation on the origins of the modern Middle East.
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- Q: What is the main topic of 'Parting the Desert: The Creation of the Suez Canal'? A: The book discusses the history and significance of the Suez Canal's construction, focusing on the efforts of Ferdinand de Lesseps and the impact of this engineering feat on global connectivity.
- Q: Who is the author of this book? A: The author of 'Parting the Desert' is Zachary Karabell, an award-winning historian.
- Q: What is the page count of the book? A: The book has a total of 320 pages.
- Q: When was 'Parting the Desert' published? A: The book was published on May 11, 2004.
- Q: What type of binding does this book have? A: This edition of the book is available in paperback binding.
- Q: What are the key themes explored in the book? A: Key themes include the challenges of constructing the Suez Canal, the political and social implications of the project, and its lasting legacy on the modern Middle East.
- Q: Is this book considered a historical narrative? A: Yes, 'Parting the Desert' is both a historical narrative and a meditation on the origins of the modern Middle East.
- Q: What challenges did Ferdinand de Lesseps face during the Suez Canal construction? A: Lesseps faced financial difficulties, technical obstacles, and political intrigues throughout the fifteen years of the project's construction.
- Q: Does the book address the labor conditions during the canal's construction? A: Yes, the book mentions that the construction relied heavily on forced labor, highlighting the ethical concerns surrounding the project.
- Q: What is the significance of the Suez Canal according to the book? A: The Suez Canal is portrayed as a symbol of progress that aimed to unite nations, though its legacy is described as mixed due to the controversies surrounding its construction.