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Arabia through the Looking Glass

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( 246 ratings, 24 reviews)
Book Hero Magic crafted this summary to help describe this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Summary
Arabia through the Looking Glass by Jonathan Raban offers a vivid exploration of the Arabian Peninsula from a traveller's perspective. The author embarks on a journey through both bustling cities and vast deserts, capturing the complex culture and landscapes of the region. Blending keen observation with thoughtful reflections, the book delves into the interactions between tradition and modernity in Arabian societies.
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Format: Paperback / softback
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Book Hero Magic created this recommendation. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! IS THIS YOUR NEXT READ?

This book may appeal to you if you're fascinated by immersive journeys into exotic cultures, offering a vivid exploration of the Arabian Peninsula. With the author's captivating storytelling and insightful observations, you'll discover the enigmatic and diverse landscapes and customs of Arabia, which are both eye-opening and thought-provoking.

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'Of all his generation's travellers, Jonathan Raban is the most sophisticated, writing with a subtle and imaginative brilliance.' Colin Thubron

Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Description

Of all his generation's travellers, Jonathan Raban is the most sophisticated, writing with a subtle and imaginative brilliance. — Colin Thubron

One of the most humane and visionary of all travel writers. — Jeremy Seal

Into Jonathan Raban's familiar Earls Court neighbourhood after the 1970s oil boom came new visitors from the Arab world, dressed in floor-length robes and yashmaks. A people apart, little known, Raban wanted to get behind the myth and the rumour to discover the reality of their lives and world. His journey took him through Bahrain, Qatar, Abu Dhabi, Yemen, Egypt and Jordan. What he discovered was a far cry from the camel, tent and sand dune archetypes of early European explorers.

Oil wealth had seeped into almost every corner, and Bedouin encampments had been replaced by cosmopolitan boomtowns, camels by Range Rovers. The sons of Bedouin nomads were now studying medicine in Europe and engineering in New York. Yet in this fast-moving world, old certainties remained, and cultural innovation lagged miles behind economic change.

Raban's gift for friendship introduces us to a series of memorable individuals, rich and poor, set against the feel, the smells, the sounds and the nuances of Arabia.

Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9781780601397

Publisher: Eland Publishing Ltd

Format: Paperback / softback

Date Published: 24 May 2018

Country: United Kingdom

Imprint: Eland Publishing Ltd

Audience: General / adult

DIMENSIONS

Weight: 250g

Pages: 312

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