Since a bloodless coup in 1969, Libya has become synonymous with Mu'ammar al-Qaddafi, the charismatic leader whom Nelson Mandela dubbed one of the revolutionary icons of our time.  However, falling prey to empire builders from the ancient Greeks to Mussolini's Italy, Libya was embroilded in controversy long before Qaddafi's meteoric rise to power.

Skillfully navigating the nation's history, Ronald Bruce St John explores Libya's struggle to estalbish its political and economic identity.  From the infamous Lockerbie bombing to Qaddafi's astonishing return to the international stage, this is a thoughtful and regrossing introduction to this turbulent land on the cusp of Africa and the Middle East.