Lebanon, a country no bigger than Connecticut, has become a battleground for the political, strategic and ideological conflicts of its neighbors and the great powers. It has come to reflect the broad historical experiences of the modern Middle East. Beware of Small States is an elegant and incisive history of Lebanon culminating with the 2006 war between Israel and Hezbollah and its aftermath. David Hirsta former Middle East correspondent for The Guardian, whose tough, skeptical voice has earned him death threats and seen him banned from six Arab countriescrafts a narrative that is essential for anyone wishing to understand the current political climate of the Middle East.

Author Biography

David Hirst was for many years the Middle Eastern correspondent of "The Guardian." His seminal book on the Arab-Israeli conflict, "The Gun and the Olive Branch," was published in 1977 and in a massively updated new edition in 2003. He has been banned from six Arab countries and kidnapped twice in the course of his distinguished career. He writes regularly for "The Guardian," "Los Angeles Times," "Toronto Globe and Mail," "Daily Star" (Lebanon), "Al-Ahram" (Egypt). He divides his time between Lebanon and Cyprus.