Shemlan

SIR JAMES CRAIG graduated in Oriental languages at Oxford and was then Lecturer in Arabic at Durham University for seven years. After three years as Principal Instructor at MECAS he joined HM Diplomatic Service and served in various Middle Eastern posts, ending as Ambassador to Syria, 1976-79, and to Saudi Arabia, 1979-84. After retirement he was Visiting Professor in Arabic at Oxford, President of the Middle East Association and held several banking and commercial directorships.

• List of Plates Foreword by Lord Hurd of Westwell Preface Acknowledgements The Idea The Jerusalem Years A Village in the Mountains The Early Years in Shemlan Reform Expansion The Final Years Problems Who Were They? How Well Did It Do? Appendixes Notes Index

'In his lively, comprehensive and often humorous account, Sir James Craig describes how a good idea was turned into a unique and highly successful enterprise, despite doubts at home and political tensions and conflicts in the region.' - Sir Donald Maitland 'From personal knowledge, the memories of students, and from official documents, [Sir James Craig] has put together an excellent history.' - M.E. Yapp, The Times Literary Supplement