A King Oppressed ― The Story of Farouk I of Egypt (1936-1952)

From childhood, Farouk learned how the foreign powers had been involved in colonization schemes beyond their shores. His Father wished him to be a rebuttal to Hassan el Banna, the mentor of Muslim Brotherhood - emerged in 1928, about eight years after Farouk was born. Fouad wanted Farouk to fit in line with the broad Islamic principle, a contradiction in the current practices as espoused by the fanatic Muslims. In this situation, Fouad was asking too much of a teenager. Farouk's obnoxious personality veneered with good looks and charm; a new Egypt was arising out of the old. If Egyptians were looking forward to having a hero - Farouk ought to be the one. Egyptians called him "the honest good shepherd", young girls called him "Prince Charming". World War II and Farouk's strong sentiments towards the Axis to help Egypt get rid of British occupation since 1882. Loose tongues never stopped, many heard stories about his extravagance, his idiosyncrasies and lust for power, and... women. It is possible that there is no more truth in those tales than in the ones that had circulated about the strength of the Junta, which ousted him. What's true is that Great Britain wanted him to leave and the United States did not object. King Farouk himself had hinted at it, not privately but publicly.