Despite the long-standing political and practical difficulties of doing research about Iraq, thescholarly world has recently witnessed the publication of several outstanding historical works onthe Ottoman period. Hala Fattah and Dina Rizk Khoury in particular have set in their books a highstandard of thorough research, careful analysis, and thoughtful conclusions. Now, in thislong-awaited book, Sarah Shields lives up to her predecessors' standard by making her ownexcellent contribution to the study of Ottoman Iraq.