Acknowledgements Abbreviations Introduction: 'The Pedigree of a White Stallion'PART ONE: LINES OF INCURSION, 1798-19221 Persia's Doubtful Friend2 Toeholds in Arabia3 Mediterranean Approaches4 Unintended Consequences5 The War for the Middle East: On the Defensive, 1914-166 The War for the Middle East: Onto the Offensive, 1916-187 'Present at the Creation'PART TWO: HIGH NOON, 1922-458 'An Inferior Independence'9 Client Kings10 'Riding Two Horses at Once'11 Strongmen, Borders and Oil12 Egypt and the Second World War13 Holding the Middle EastPART THREE: DISSOLUTION, 1945-7114 Complex Adjustments15 A Sea of Troubles16 The Road to Suez17 Still Fighting Nasser18 Oil, Force and BasesPART FOUR: POST-IMPERIAL, 1971-2014 19 Just a Trading Nation 20 A Return to the Gulf PART FIVE: PERSPECTIVES 21 Matters of Scruple 22 How Did the British Do? Notes Select Bibliography Index.