Wheeler M. Thackston, Jr. is Senior Preceptor in Persian in the Department of Near Eastern Languages at Harvard University. He is also the translator of Naser-e Khosraw's Books of Travels (Safarnāma), also published by SUNY Press.

"It makes it clear, like no secondary work can, that localism, kinship, and clan loyalties are the essential ingredients of social life in closely-knit, small-scaled societies. This is useful not only for Lebanon and the Middle East, but also for the many parts of the world where pluralism still dominates." —Leila Fawaz, Tufts University"It is a fascinating eyewitness report of a decisive period of Lebanese history and constitutes a major source for historical studies of the period. The author himself was both participant and keen observer and provides us with penetrating insights into his own society and his own thinking. The English translation has the great advantage over the Arabic printed edition, in that it incorporates all parts of the original manuscript including those left out in the Arab edition for political reason."—Thomas Philipp, Brandeis University

• ABBREVIATED CONTENTSPrefaceIntroductionPart One: 1750-1804Part Two: 1804-1820Part Three: 1820-1830Part Four: 1830-1840Part Five: 1840-1873Appendix A: Terms and TitlesAppendix B: Emirs of Mount Lebanon of the House of ShihabAppendix C: Emirs of Hasbayya and Rashayya, Shaykhs of the House of Jumablat, The Mishaqa FamilyNotesBibliographyIndex

Wheeler M. Thackston, Jr. is Senior Preceptor in Persian in the Department of Near Eastern Languages at Harvard University. He is also the translator of Naser-e Khosraw's Books of Travels (Safarnāma), also published by SUNY Press.

"It makes it clear, like no secondary work can, that localism, kinship, and clan loyalties are the essential ingredients of social life in closely-knit, small-scaled societies. This is useful not only for Lebanon and the Middle East, but also for the many parts of the world where pluralism still dominates." —Leila Fawaz, Tufts University"It is a fascinating eyewitness report of a decisive period of Lebanese history and constitutes a major source for historical studies of the period. The author himself was both participant and keen observer and provides us with penetrating insights into his own society and his own thinking. The English translation has the great advantage over the Arabic printed edition, in that it incorporates all parts of the original manuscript including those left out in the Arab edition for political reason."—Thomas Philipp, Brandeis University

• ABBREVIATED CONTENTSPrefaceIntroductionPart One: 1750-1804Part Two: 1804-1820Part Three: 1820-1830Part Four: 1830-1840Part Five: 1840-1873Appendix A: Terms and TitlesAppendix B: Emirs of Mount Lebanon of the House of ShihabAppendix C: Emirs of Hasbayya and Rashayya, Shaykhs of the House of Jumablat, The Mishaqa FamilyNotesBibliographyIndex