His father named him Farouk which means "One Who Knows Right From Wrong". In 1936, at sixteen years of age he succeeded to the throne thus becoming the hope of an independent Egypt.

Deprived of childhood companions, Farouk as king would prove to be easily manipulated by corrupt politicians and sycophantic servants. Poorly educated and immature, he was totally unfit for the challenges he had to face.

Aware of his own inadequacies, Farouk transformed into an obese faun with a mania for women, gambling and other people's possessions. Farouk became the object of ridicule, the subject of bad jokes, an abject failure as a national leader and a symbol for Liberals of everything that was wrong with the Imperial system.

Author Hugh McLeave who spent five years during WWII in the Middle East serving as an artillery officer interviewed more than 150 people over two years to prepare this compelling portrait of strangely tragic buffoon.