The Revolutionists

Brilliant, beautifully researched, observed and written. An astonishing window not just into the origins of modern terrorism but also into our own age – Rory Stewart, author of Politics on the EdgeA kaleidoscopic sweep through an extraordinary era told with cool authority and a novelist’s eye for detail. Burke is a master in the field – Rory Carroll, author of Killing ThatcherIf journalism is the first draft of history, then this is its second draft. A book that historians will be consulting and profiting from for many decades to come – Tom Holland, author of Rubicon and host of The Rest Is HistorySuperb and monumental * Spectator *An excellent, deeply researched, fascinating chronicle of lethal Middle Eastern conspirators and absurd western killers that is as irresistible and unputdownable as it is astonishing and relevant * The Times, Book of the Week *Riveting … [The Revolutionists] is an absorbing history of terrorism in Europe and the Middle East … A deeply researched, ambitious and elegantly written book * Observer *[A] huge, roving and painstakingly researched account of the rise of modern terrorism * Financial Times *Magisterial … The Revolutionists [is] such an engaging, intelligible guide through a dense geopolitical period * New Statesman *Jason Burke’s meticulously researched book is peopled by an array of colourful characters from terrorists to idealists and double agents. By melding eye-witness accounts with a deep understanding of politics and modern history, he shows how the hijackings and political murders of the late twentieth century led to the turbulence of the 21st. It makes for a riveting read – Lindsey Hilsum, International Editor, Channel 4 NewsThe Revolutionists is an incisive account of the rise of modern terrorism following the founding of the State of Israel. It manages to be both scholarly and engaging. A wonderful book for any reader interested in the Middle East and the curse of terror that has haunted the region - and the world - for too many years – Lawrence Wright, author of The Looming Tower

Jason Burke, the International Security correspondent for the Guardian, has been a foreign correspondent for almost 30 years, reporting from the Middle East, South Asia, Europe and Africa. He is one of the foremost writers on terrorism and the author of four critically acclaimed books- The New Threat from Islamic Militancy, shortlisted for the Orwell Prize; The 9⁄11 Wars, ‘the best overview of the 9⁄11 decade in print’ (The Economist); the ground-breaking Al-Qaeda- The True Story of Radical Islam and On the Road to Kandahar- Travels through Conflict in the Islamic World. He lives near London.