"Neyzi's fine study uncovers an important but rarely-studied subject in Modern Middle East history. It brings together the imperial and local/tribal in the example of Abdulhamid's School for Tribes and using hitherto-unused primary sources. A must-read." -- M. Talha Çiçek, Assistant Professor, Istanbul Medeniyet University, Turkey "An exhaustive study of a short-lived yet venerable Ottoman educational institution and its notable alumni, who hailed from the margins of the empire and rose to prominence during the empire-to-nation transition in the Middle East." -- Hasan Kayali, Professor, University of California, San Diego "This book offers a unique perspective on nineteenth century Ottoman efforts at modernization and reforms designed to keep the empire together. One ambitious project was a boarding school in Istanbul for the sons of the tribal leaders. In this well-written book, Neyzi skillfully examines the school and its legacy through the lives and careers of its Arab graduates.

" --Sevket Pamuk, Bogaziçi University, Turkey "In charting the history of Sultan Abdulhamid's Asiret Mektebi, Mehmet Ali Neyzi's superbly researched book makes a pivotal contribution to our understanding of state-building in the Late Ottoman Empire. It casts new light on the tribal politics of the Hamidian era and deftly links the 'Imperial School for the Tribes' to the history of the 'Last Ottoman Generation' in Libya and the Fertile Crescent , documenting the role of its most prominent graduates in the complex history of anti-colonial resistance and imperial collaboration that accompanied the shift to a European dominated state system ." -- Tariq Tell, American University of Beirut.