John Harte Books

The modern Middle East was shaped in conflict between local tribes and Western powers that had crushing, mechanized armies and entitled, obtuse leaders. Against what they perceived as a dense wall of plain stupidity masquerading as real-politik, three British spies threw the power of their idealism and their belief in the humanity of ordinary Arabs. They succeeded in extraordinary ways, and yet paid a heavy price. Two took their own lives. The third raised a son who became a notorious double agent in the Cold War: Kim Philby.Gertrude Bell, Jack Philby, and TE Lawrence show us how to fight wealth and power on one hand and ignorance and violence on the other—how to inject ideals into real world institutions that will improve the lives of ordinary people. Lawrence and Bell accomplished a lot and yet could never do enough and simply could not outlast the national governments who served the interests of first world wealth.Jack Philby, on the other hand, was all too successful. He enabled men in kaffiyehs to become a force in the modern world and to spread their stunning wealth among Arabs—rather than sending it to the West.

The thrilling true exploits of Sidney Reilly, Britain's top spy, unfold in this retelling by John Harte, who explores the possibility of Reilly being a Soviet double-agent. The narrative is fast-paced and rich in detail, revealing the real events surrounding Reilly's mysterious disappearance in Soviet Russia in 1925. Contrary to the belief that he was murdered by Stalin's secret police, Harte presents a surprising twist about Reilly's fate, offering readers an intriguing glimpse into espionage and deception.

From 1917 to 1923 Russia was in upheaval and the fate of the country was in question. The British sent their super agent, Sidney Reilly, to Moscow to see what could be done. He failed to thwart the Russian Revolution, but in many other daring missions he established himself as the greatest agent in British history. He was a Hero! On the other hand, perhaps he also was a Traitor!

True account of the rise and fall of the American genius Robert Oppenheimer, chosen by the U.S. military to head a team of scientists to develop the first atomic bomb. Timed with the release of Oppenheimer, directed by Christopher Nolan and starring Cillian Murphy and Robert Downey Jnr

The current battle between superstitious and prejudiced forces from the past, against more enlightened modern ones, began when Winston Churchill was appointed colonial secretary in 1920. With the defeat of the shadowy Turkish Empire in 1918 by the Allies, he was challenged by three grim forces of menace and Communism, Fascism, and Islamist Fundamentalism. Each aimed to extinguish every spark of democratic freedom across the Middle East and the West. Churchill’s Challenges describes how this led to subversives undermining democracy from within and without. This book combines a social and cultural history of 1918-1940 with a biography of Churchill, to reveal how he responded to his society at that time, and his impact on it. His own character transformed just as dramatically from the eager and ambitious youth to the shrewd and successful politician he became. This account of the first half of Winston Churchill’s life focuses on how the world developed as a consequence of his influence in each ministerial position he filled. His decisions still impact world politics today.This book's release coincides with the 150th anniversary of Churchill's birth.