A century has passed since the beginning of the modern political history of the Hashemites—and it remains shrouded in much ambiguity, injustice, and distortion. We believe no one can deny this fact. In 1908, the Ottoman Turks appointed Sharif Hussein bin Ali as Emir of Mecca. Just eight years later, in 1916, Sharif Hussein launched his Great Arab Revolt against them, eventually becoming King of the Arabs. His three sons (Ali, Abdullah, and Faisal I) then ruled over the Hejaz, Jordan, and Syria, and later Iraq. Their rule ended in three countries, and they still govern a fourth (Jordan), while they aspire to reclaim the throne of another (Iraq).
However, their most horrific and gruesome end was in Baghdad on July 14, 1958, where only one princess from the royal family survived the "Al-Rahab Palace Massacre": Princess Badia, daughter of King Ali and granddaughter of Sharif Hussein bin Ali. Now 82 years old, she lives in London. She carries on her shoulders the memories, worries, and sorrows of her grandfather, her father, her uncles (the kings Hussein, Ali, Abdullah, Faisal I, and Prince Zeid), their sons and grandsons (the kings Ghazi, Faisal II, Talal, and Hussein), and other princes and princesses. She recounts these stories for posterity, along with the lives of her brother, Prince Abdul-Ilah, her mother, Queen Nafisa, and her sisters, Queen Alia, Princesses Abdiya, and Princess Jalila.

Latest releases from Bookfanar website