In 1950, five-year-old Avi Shlaim and his family were forced to flee Iraq, leaving behind a once-thriving Jewish community that had endured for 2,600 years. But why did this flourishing world vanish? The official story speaks of an inevitable clash between Arabs and Jews, a Zionist mission to rescue persecuted Eastern Jews. Shlaim, however, unravels a different truth—one where political agendas, underground Zionist activity, and nationalist fervor reshaped history. Part memoir, part political reckoning, Three Worlds illuminates the lost world of Arab-Jews caught between identities and ideologies. Hailed as “remarkable” (The Sunday Times) and “beautifully written” (Spectator), this gripping account offers a rare, deeply personal perspective on the intersection of history and exile. A must-read for history lovers and memoir enthusiasts alike.
