In May 1948 he even raided the Legion’s canteen fund to finance emergency access roads to Ramallah.Such was Glubb’s predilection for imperialist order that he criticised first-century Jews for rejecting Roman rule. Here lay his lifelong paradox: Glubb Pasha served two masters – Britain and Jordan – and saw no contradiction between their interests. Hence his shock when a young King Hussein dismissed him in March 1956.British colonial intrigue marks a departure for Benny Morris, an Israeli academic best known for revealing painful facts behind the Palestinian refugee crisis. This book concentrates on collusion between Glubb, Transjordan and the Zionists. Still, Zionists and Legionnaires did struggle over the “jewel in the crown”, Jerusalem. Morris draws on declassified sources to give an excellent depiction of the battle.Another theme is Glubb’s anti-Semitism. He depicted Jews as aloof, rebellious, materialist and vicious.

He lectured on “The Problem of the Jewish Nose”, and spoke of Jordan’s battles with “World Jewry”. Elsewhere, though, he sympathised with Jewish suffering, and grudgingly acknowledged their legitimate desire for sanctuary.On balance, he seems more pro-Hashemite than anti-Jewish. He hoped Jordan would usurp Syria and Iraq to create the Arab superstate that colonial planners dreamt off. Presumably, Britain would then feel less guilty about deserting their allies, the Hashemites, whom the Saudis displaced from Mecca and Medina.Road to Jerusalem is a gripping exposition of an age when Britain believed it ruled the dunes as well as waves. It shows how superpowers play off local potentates for strategic advantage, yet find themselves caught in a web of their own making.

Now, there appears to be no contemporary Glubb to extricate them.. Book by next Sunday, 25 August, for the current crop of summer specials on Eurostar – the day-trip fare of £50 to Paris or Brussels, which applies only to two people travelling together, must be bought at least three days in advance It is available for travel until 7 September. The short-break fare of £59 to either capital can be used any time before the end of September, but you must book two weeks in advance and stay away two nights (or a single Saturday night). These cheap deals are not available over the August bank holiday. Travelling further afield, Eurostar has a link with the Thalys high-speed train to offer a rapid journey to Rotterdam, The Hague or Amsterdam for £85 return; this must be booked through Rail Europe (08705 848 848, , but has no date restrictions.