Robert Lacey
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Robert Lacey

  • Home
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    • Latest Books

      Battle of Brothers

      June 24, 2021

      Latest Books

      The Crown Volume 2: The Official Companion

      November 19, 2019

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Death Of The Tiger

January 3, 2016
Death Of The Tiger

Here’s a comment I have just posted on the University of Columbia Gulf 2000 website reflecting on the recent execution of the Shia cleric Nimr Al-Nimr by the Saudi government:

Elana DeLozier’s thoughtful post of yesterday reminds me of listening to the Ashura press conferences delivered in the Qatif area within a few days of each other in January 2007 by the two principal Saudi Shia leaders, Sheikh Hassan Al-Saffar and Sheikh Nimr Al-Nimr – the Tiger of the Tigers. The tone could not have been more different.

Al-Saffar was conciliatory, moving, passive – quietist in a constructive fashion, anxious to emphasize the gains for the Shia community that he and his colleague Jaffr Al-Shayeb had made through engaging in dialogue with the government.

Al-Nimr was anything but quietist. He was positively incendiary – angry, inflammatory and notably uncompromising. He was contemptuous of Al-Shayeb and Al-Saffar for playing the Saudi game, and called openly for the overthrow of the house of Saud.

At the time the Saudi journalist Rasheed Abou-Alsamh reported as follows: “Sheikh Nimr al Nimr is one of the critics of the dialogue that Al-Shayeb and Sheikh Saffar have been having with the government, insisting that Shiites in Saudi Arabia will only get their rights by fighting for them . . . .”

Abou-Alsamh quoted Al-Nimr as saying: “The government is not going to give us our rights; the people are going to have fight for them. If people fight for their rights, they have to expect to pay the price for it . . .”

For western reporters to describe Al-Nimr as promoting peaceful protest in Saudi Arabia is not an accurate portrayal of the man that I heard calling for civil disobedience – especially in contrast to the stance taken by Sheikh Al-Saffar. They should have seen the storm troopers surrounding the “Tiger” at that press conference in 2007 and should consider the record of his supporters since then. It is no coincidence that all violent and weapon-toting demonstrations in the Qatif area have emanated from Al-Nimr’s village of Al-Awamiyya, with tragic deaths occurring among the demonstrators inspired by Al-Nimr, as well among the Saudi policemen trying to deal with protestors who were openly carrying – and making use of – firearms.

In his 2007 report, Abou-Alsamh suggested an economic reason for Al-Nimr’s aggressive approach:

“The division between the Saudi Shiites is due in part to economic differences that have left a large portion of the Shiite community in a state of financial desperation. Sheikh Nimer is one of those living in a poorer area, so poor in fact that he was not able to hold nightly Husseiniyas, or religious lectures that are held during Ashoura, because he did not have access to a building in which to hold it.
“In contrast, Sheikh Saffar held daily Husseiniyas in a brand new, three-storey building in Tarout that is owned by a local family.
“‘If Sheikh Saffar and his followers think things are improving for Shiites that is their opinion, but I don’t agree with them,’ said Nimr.”

Abou-Alsamh’s article – very valuable in having become an historical record of events nine years ago – can be read in full here.

As I look back to Ashura of 2007, I have an enduring memory of Al-Nimr’s fury at that press conference. I thought there was something threatening – and certainly deeply uncompromising – about his pride in having recently been jailed by the Saudi government, and his suggestion that more should follow his path.

His arguments had justice, and looking at the poor village around him, one could see the reasons for his anger. But nine years later I can also see why his hated enemy, the Al-Saud, might have decided that compromise was pointless with the tiger who was never going to make peace with them.

The question is, having demonstrated their ability to punish, can the Saudi government now issue proper rewards to the Shia who play their game?

Saudi Arabia
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Robert Lacey

Robert Lacey

British historian and writer

Robert Lacey is a British historian noted for his original research, which gets him close to – and often living alongside – his subjects. He is the author of numerous international bestsellers. lege felicter - may you read happily

Lege feliciter - may you read happily

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As the Platinum Jubilee begins with news of Camill As the Platinum Jubilee begins with news of Camilla’s elevated status, the Queen, Charles and William are making the big decisions as a trio. 

Robert Lacey writes in @thetimes. Article also on Robert’s website: Robertlacey.com

#robertlacey #platinumjubilee #royalfamily #thequeen
Robert lacey writes for the BBC as The Queen celeb Robert lacey writes for the BBC as The Queen celebrates her #platinumjubilee 

Full article on the BBC website: www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-60201088
As we approach the 70th anniversary of The Queen’s accession on February 6th, Robert Lacey selects his top pick of books about the Royal Family and The Queen. 

shepherd.com/best-books/about-the-queen

#royalfamily #PlatinumJubilee
Battle of Brothers: William, Harry and the Inside Battle of Brothers: William, Harry and the Inside Story of a Family in Tumult

First published in hardback: 15 October 2020

What drove Prince William and Prince Harry from the closest of brothers into very different, now distanced men? How has the painful, public unravelling of Prince Charles and Diana’s marriage reverberated through generations? What parts have Kate Middleton and Meghan Markle played in helping their husbands to choose divergent paths? And how does the Queen feel, marshalling her feuding heirs and looking ahead to the future of the British monarchy?

Moving and unvarnished, this is the most intimate insight yet of division in the royal family.

#battleofbrothers #royalfamily #harryandmeghan #williamandkate #britishmonarchy #robertlacey #christmasreads
Little Man - Meyer Lansky and the gangster life by Little Man - Meyer Lansky and the gangster life by Robert Lacey in 1991

Little Man is a book about organised crime unlike any other yet written. If, in the mythology of organised crime, Al Capone symbolised the crude menace of the machine gun and the baseball bat, Meyer Lansky stood for the brains, the sophistication, the hot money, the sheer cleverness of it all. This brilliant biography and social history separates the strands of fact and legend in Meyer Lansky’s – the Godfather of Godfathers – career, revealing a truth about the gangster life in America that is far more fascinating and dramatic than fiction.

#biography 
#meyerlansky 
#americanhistory 
#robertlacey
Extracts from Robert Lacey's book "Battle of Broth Extracts from Robert Lacey's book "Battle of Brothers: William, Harry and the Inside Story of a Family in Tumult" are being featured in The Times this week. 

In Today's article Robert Lacey said allegations against the Duchess of Sussex led to a bitter row between brothers who were once inseparable.

You can read the full article from the link in the bio.

#MeghanandHarry
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Speaking earlier, Robert Lacey said: “Prince Ph Speaking earlier, Robert Lacey said:

“Prince Philip has been such an integral part of our life. Playing such a key role in the life of the nation.

It was no accident that we decided to feature Prince Philip very strongly in the Crown episode about the moon landing – capturing his interests in science and how he came to understand that science can only take you so far. He went on to develop a strong personal religious faith.

He also helped in bringing the monarchy into touch with everyday life in a fresh way. So many of The Queen’s fresh ideas and fresh initiatives came from this remarkable man.

Prince Philip will be remembered for his sardonic smile, hands behind the back, often unfailingly 2 steps behind Her Majesty. Always there in the most supporting sense.”

Photograph from 1972 in Robert Lacey's book Majesty. “Queen Elizabeth was always front, but Prince Philip was always center.”
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