This book explores the life of Muammar al-Qaddafi, the enigmatic Libyan leader, from his birth to his assassination in a drainage ditch outside the city of Sirte in October 2011. The first authoritative biography of Qaddafi, it aims to make sense of his remarkable life and times. Known for his idiosyncratic ideas and flamboyant dress, his persona was also a cloak he used to obscure his personal and professional life. Qaddafi created a repressive political system, supported terrorist movements abroad and suppressed basic human rights at home, while abusing hundreds of women. Qaddafi: Beyond the Myth provides a comprehensive look at the forces that shaped Qaddafi and enabled him to become the world's longest-ruling head of state. It also provides essential information for anyone attempting to understand the division, confusion and chaos that has dominated post-Qaddafi Libya.