Suez

On 26 July 1956, Gamal Abdul Nasser nationalized the Suez Canal Company. Britain, France and Israel colluded in attacking Egypt, ostensibly - in the case of Britain and France - to protect the Suez Canal but in reality to depose Nasser. The US opposition to this scheme forced an ignominious withdrawal. Eden's political career was finished, Mollet offered to resign because of "British capitulation" and Nasser was triumphant. Above all, Britain's imperial posture was decisively over. Keith Kyle draws on a wealth of documentary evidence to recount this fascinating political, military and diplomatic story.