Lewis writes authoritatively, magisterially and often brilliantly.

• Preface to the Fourth Edition; The physical & social setting; Before partition; The imperial partition: 1860-97; The dervish fight for freedom: 1900-20; Somali unification: the Italian East African empire; The restoration of colonial frontiers: 1940-50; From trusteeship to independence: 1950-60; The problems of independence; The Somali revolution: 1969-76; Nationalism, ethnicity & revolution in the Horn of Africa; Nation & state in recent history