Draft:Alan de Lacy Rush

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Alan de Lacy Rush (born July 1936) is a British historical researcher and writer, specialising in the genealogy and political history of ruling dynasties in the Arabian Gulf and the broader Middle East. He is based in London and Cairo, and has contributed significantly to studies on the Hashemite and Kuwaiti royal houses.

Early life and education

Born of Anglo-Irish and Danish parentage, Rush began his career as a reporter with the Daily Express in London. He contributed to *The Authors’ and Writers’ Who’s Who*, *Burke’s Peerage*, and *The International Statesman’s Yearbook*. Later he taught English literature in the U.S. and became a style-editor with the *Encyclopedia Americana*. :contentReference[oaicite:1]{index=1}

Middle East career

Rush first travelled to the Middle East in 1970. He taught at King Saud University in Riyadh and King ‘Abd al-‘Aziz University in Jeddah. From 1975 to 1982, he was a lecturer at Kuwait University and contributed to *Kuwait Times*, *Arab Times* and *Al-Qabas*. :contentReference[oaicite:2]{index=2}

Research focus

Since 1982, Rush has devoted himself to researching Gulf monarchies. His work draws on archives from the British Foreign Office, East India Office, the British Library, National Archives of India, Oxford’s Middle East Centre, U.S. National Archives, French diplomatic archives, and the League of Nations. :contentReference[oaicite:3]{index=3}

Major works

• **_Al Sabah: History and Genealogy of Kuwait’s Ruling Family, 1752–1987_** (Ithaca Press, 1987) – a comprehensive account of Kuwait’s Al‑Sabah dynasty. :contentReference[oaicite:4]{index=4}
• Contributor to *Burke’s Ruling Families of the World, Volume 2* (1980), with essays on the Al‑Sabah and Saudi royal families. :contentReference[oaicite:5]{index=5}
• Contributor and editorial advisor to *Kuwait: A MEED Practical Guide* (1985). :contentReference[oaicite:6]{index=6}
• Editor/researcher for documentary volumes published by Archive Editions:

 * *Records of Kuwait* (8 vols, 1989)  
 * *Ruling Families of Arabia* (10 vols, 1991)  
 * *Records of the Hajj* (10 vols, 1993)  
 * *Records of the Hashimite Dynasties* (Jordan, Iraq, Hijaz – 15 vols, 1995)  
 * *Records of Iraq* (15 vols, 2001) :contentReference[oaicite:7]{index=7}  

• Provided the introductory essay for the 2008 edition of *Three Kings in Baghdad: The Tragedy of Iraq’s Monarchy* by Gerald de Gaury, published by I.B. Tauris, with a Preface by Philip Mansel. :contentReference[oaicite:8]{index=8}

Articles and contributions

Rush has written for publications including *The Independent*, *Financial Times*, *The Guardian*, *Al‑Hayat*, *Middle East International*, *MEED*, and the *Journal of the Royal Society for Asian Affairs*. :contentReference[oaicite:9]{index=9}

Personal

He is known to reside between London and Cairo. :contentReference[oaicite:10]{index=10}

Bibliography

Books

• _Al Sabah: History and Genealogy of Kuwait’s Ruling Family, 1752–1987_ (Ithaca Press, 1987)
• *Burke’s Ruling Families of the World, Volume 2* (contributor, 1980)
• *Kuwait: A MEED Practical Guide* (editorial advisor, 1985)
• *Records of Kuwait* (8 vols, Archive Editions, 1989)
• *Ruling Families of Arabia* (10 vols, Archive Editions, 1991)
• *Records of the Hajj* (10 vols, Archive Editions, 1993)
• *Records of the Hashimite Dynasties* (15 vols, Archive Editions, 1995)
• *Records of Iraq* (15 vols, Archive Editions, 2001)
• Introductory essay to *Three Kings in Baghdad* (Ithaca Press, 2008)

Contributions

• Numerous articles in international newspapers and academic journals on Gulf history and royal genealogies.

Linked Articles

• Said bin Taimur
• Mazoon bint Ahmad Al Mashani
• Taimur bin Feisal
• One Thousand Roads to Mecca

External links

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