The Blisses and the Dodges, who created the American University of Beirut--the region's most influential institution of higher learning, were the "first family" of Americans in the Middle East for more than a century. VanDeMark (history, US Naval Academy, Annapolis, MD) chronicles the families' mission to preach American values and the creation, accomplishments, backlash to AUB after 1945, and relevance to current US-Middle East tensions. The book includes photographs and a list of prominent living alumni. Annotation ©2012 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)