Today Lebanon is one of the world's most divided countries. But paradoxically the faction-ridden Lebanese, both Christians and Muslims, have never shown a keener consciousness of common identity. In this outstanding book a famous Lebanese historian examines in the light of modern scholarship the historical myths on which his country's warring communities have based their conflicting visions of the Lebanese nation.In the course of his extremely lively exposition, Salibi offers a major reinterpretation of Lebanese history, and provides remarkable insights into the synamic of Lebanon's recent conflict. This is a brilliantly conceived and elegantly written cast study of the phenomenon of nationalism. It will appeal as much to political scientists as to those seeking to understand the conflict in Lebanon today.