Between Two Seas: The Creation of the Suez Canal

New York: William Morrow, 1969. Hardcover. Very Good. Hardcover. The creation of the Suez Canal was a major diplomatic issue from the time that Napoleon first envisioned it in 1799 until it was finally started in 1858 and completed in 1869. Ferdinand de Lesseps (French) was the primary proponent of the canal, and although he pledged neutrality for the use of the canal, British leaders were concerned about French influence as well as the potential destabilization of the weakened Ottoman Empire by the physical and possible political separation of Egypt from Turkey. De Lesseps decided to push ahead in 1858 to create a "fait accompli" by beginning construction through a privately-formed company. While initially under the control of an Egyptian incorporated company, control of the company and canal changed hands a number of times, to Britain in 1875 and then back to Egypt in 1951 (under hostile conditions). In 1956, Britain, France, and Israel invaded Egypt to take back control of the canal, but they were forced to withdraw shortly thereafter by diplomatic pressure from the US and the United Nations. This was considered a humiliation for Britain and France. Lord Kinross provides a detailed history of the diplomatic and political struggles that held up the creation of the canal for more than half a century. 306 pp. MIDEAST/5162.