Famous British historian Robert Lacey speaks to AUS students

Robert Lacey, a famous British historian and author, talked about his experiences in Saudi Arabia at a Modern Arab History class at American University of Sharjah (AUS) on Thursday, November 17.

Having moved to Saudi Arabia in 1979, Lacey spoke about the kingdom's growth he witnessed over the years. He brought up key points about the country and its relations with its neighbors and discussed the socioeconomic situation with the audience.

Throughout the presentation, Lacey shared a series of rare and historic photographs of Saudi Arabia, highlighting the development of Saudi relations with the rest of the world, the British influence in the region and explained the royal family tree in detail.

Lacey is a historian, journalist and author noted for his original research and his title as the "method actor" of contemporary biographers. He has written numerous international bestsellers, and his pioneering biography of Queen Elizabeth II remains acknowledged as the definitive study of British monarchy.

More than 20 years after he first moved to Saudi Arabia to write about the Saudis, Lacey has tried to find out the influence of oil boom on the society and on its relationship with the rest of the world. The Arabic version of his book Inside the Kingdom: Kings, Clerics, Modernists, Terrorists, and the Struggle for Saudi Arabia was released earlier this year.

The talk was organized by the AUS College of Arts and Sciences in collaboration with the AUS Office of Development and Alumni Affairs. Lacey is currently in the UAE for the Sharjah Book Fair.