Liberating Libya
British Diplomacy and War in the Desert
Rupert Wieloch
Casemate, Philadelphia, 2021, 288 pages
Book Review published on: February 2, 2024
Liberating Libya: British Diplomacy and War in the Desert by Rupert Wieloch is an excellent book for anyone interested in Anglo-Libyan relations or history; however, if one is looking for a light reading, this is not it. It is an in-depth examination of the Anglo-Libyan relationship analyzed within a historical context. Wieloch has thirty-five years of service in the British military, including service as the senior British military commander in Libya. He served as part of a UN operation to protect the civilian population in Libya in 2011. Since then, Wieloch has written two other books: Churchill’s Abandoned Prisoners (2019) and Belfast to Benghazi (2020).
Within Liberating Libya, Wieloch seeks to make the argument that, up until recently, England has had a long tradition of humanitarian involvement in Libya and that there needs to be a reevaluation of the United Kingdom’s lack of current involvement. He further looks to make the case that Anglo-Libyan relations are as unique as they are old. He shows that despite the lack of common culture or common geography, the United Kingdom and Libya have an interconnected history characterized by a positive relationship. Specifically, the Anglo-Libyan relationship differs from other Anglo-African relations as Libya was never part of imperial aspirations. Wieloch shows throughout Libya and England’s shared history, the British came to the defense of Libya’s liberty and sovereignty.
Amazingly, the author covers approximately 2,700 years of history in 230 pages. Of the 2,700 years, the Anglo-Libyan relationship covers 329 years, beginning in 1692 with a defense treaty to protect the Libyans from French aggression. The book concludes with the author making a case for continued Western involvement in Libya despite its current instability.
Wieloch is an adept author who leveraged his personal and professional experience to create a brief, yet highly detailed account of the British experience in Libya. Wieloch did an excellent job of balancing regional context, Libyan-specific history, and British history. The amount of detail on individual events and people can, at times, be overwhelming and sometimes distracting, but the depth of research necessary to achieve this detail is extremely impressive.
Wieloch dedicated the book to the nine soldiers who earned the Victoria Cross in Libya and the one Libyan officer to be awarded the Military Cross. Liberating Libya pays homage to these warriors and many others who fought and bled in Libya. Wieloch did an impressive job of giving detailed accounts of not only the nine Victoria Cross and one Military Cross awardees but also of many British and Libyan military service members, explorers, politicians, and diplomats who positively contributed to the Anglo-Libyan relationship. This book is a well-organized chronology of the UK in Libya. He provides significant detail on the events leading up to, during, and after World War I and World War II. These details strongly support his overall thesis that the British Empire stood for the sovereignty and liberty of Libya on multiple occasions.
His personal experience and tie to the region showed through in the final section of the book, as he advocates for the continued involvement of the UK in the region. Considering the book in its entirety, it is very well organized to incite British national memory for its role in Libya. Leveraging this memory, the author makes an excellent case as to why the British should maintain their ties and investments in Libya despite recent “setbacks” and Libyan instability.
Overall, I recommend this book to anyone wanting a greater understanding of North Africa, Libyan history, or the British experience in the region. The author makes an extremely detailed and compelling case. Liberating Libya will leave the reader better informed and likely with a different view on UK-Libyan relations.
Book Review written by: Lt. Col. Stephen G. Redmon, U.S. Army, Fort Leavenworth, Kansas