Product Description
The Arab Bulletin was founded on the initiative of T. E. Lawrence to provide 'a secret magazine of Middle East politics'. Lawrence edited the first number on 6 June 1916 and thereafter sent numerous reports to it, enabling readers to follow, week by week, the Arab Revolt, which ended Ottoman domination in the Arabian peninsula. The British Foreign Office have described it as 'a remarkable intelligence journal so strictly secret in its matter that only some thirty copies of each issue were struck off... Nor might the journal be quoted from, even in secret communications'. All 114 journals are here published for the first time, with an introduction by the late Dr Robin Bidwell. ... Read more

Product Description
This publication presents, for the first time, an extensive collection of personal correspondence, letters to neighbouring Arab States and to foreign governments, from and to the Saudi leader over half a century. The first items date from the years after his fabled recapture of Riyadh in 1902, when Abdul Aziz emerged as Amir of Nejd. The last letters are from the year of King Abdul Aziz's death, 1953. The correspondence reflects the evolution over 50 years of the status, authority, style and statesmanship of King Abdul Aziz. The documents are in the original Arabic, sometimes with contemporary English translations; a minority are in English in the original. ... Read more

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Customer Reviews (43)

Great book; well researched and nicely written.
Very well researched book; nice writing style; easy to read. A great book for students of history and those interested in Saudi Arabia and how that country is ruled.

Absolutely fascinating!
A riveting account of one of the most significant, yet misunderstood, events of the 20th century. Puts everything in historical context. I am ashamed at how much I didn't know about the complexity of Arabian tribal politics. Also of note: the staggering incompetence of Saudi officialdom at the time, as well as the simplicity and naïveté of the Arabian mind in matters of religion.

An Islamic Reality
This book opens a window into the Saudi Kingdom and its relationship with Mecca and the Pilgrimage. You will learn how things really work at the shrine and how the Saudis dealt with its takeover in 1979 by fanatics; something few people know about. An excellent book.

A really good book
I thoroughly enjoyed this book by Mr. Trofimov.The author does a wonderful job creating a book that is not only very informative but is also a very entertaining read as well.This is a great skill not found in too many writers today.The ability to do thorough research which gives the book a strong foundation, and then have that rare ability to put that research down on paper in a way that is extremely engaging for the reader is a rare gift this author possesses.

Saudia Arabia is such an insular nation that this book is even more of a treasure, and it is also a testament to Mr. Trofimov's perseverence and persistence that he was able to dig up so much information on a topic so taboo for the Saudia government.The lack of sound resources and access to government archives is still a problem, but I think that this writer has done a great job considering the obstacles he faced.

This is a wonderful look into just how this nation runs (or fails to run).It is a frightening tale when one considers the pivotal strategic position that Saudia Arabia holds in the world.The world recreated here is one where privileged men live in echo chambers where no criticism is allowed or tolerated.The scenes where during the first days of the siege police and military men are sent into ambushes because one prince wanted the glory of the assault over another, or where there were no unit cohesion because the leaders didn't want to share in the glory of winning the day, is illustrative of how the country as a whole runs.It shows readers the rotten internal workings of this nation that is one of the U.S.'s most important allies in this region.The really sad thing is not much has changed in the last thrity years.

The one criticism I have is the author's criticisms that he throws out in a very flippant manner.He obviously doesn't think much of Carter, and he throws some heavy abuse his way.Now my problem isn't that the author doesn't think much of Carter, that is his opinion, but what I disliked is the fact that the author didn't expound on his criticism.I am not defending Carter, but if you are going to criticise him then the author should have written in more detail why he was so anti-Carter.I felt it was a slight omission in an otherwise stellar work.

This is a great book that I feel very comfortable recommending to any and all readers.

an excellent piece of work
This book is very well written. The author has tried to recreate the cycle of events that happened in 1979 using interviews and I think its a very authentic work till date on the Saudi state. ... Read more

Product Description
The 60-year marriage of convenience between Saudi Arabia and the United States is in trouble--with potentially rocky consequences for the United States and its relationship to Islam.

The relationship between the United States and Saudi Arabia has always been a marriage of convenience, not affection. As the result of a bargain struck between President Roosevelt and Saudi Arabia's founding king in 1945, Americans bought Saudi Arabian oil, and the Saudis bought American: American planes, American weapons, American construction projects, and American know-how. In exchange, the Saudis got modernization, education, and security. The marriage of convenience suited both sides. But how long can it last? In Inside the Mirage, journalist Thomas Lippman shows that behind the cheerful picture of friendship and alliance, there is a grimmer, grimier tale of experience and repression. Saudi Arabia is changing as younger people less enamored of America rise to prominence. And the United States, scorched by Saudi-based terrorism, is forced to rethink this bargain as it continues to play the dominant role in the ever-volatile, ever-shifting Middle East. With so much at stake, this compelling and absolutely necessary account looks at the relationship between these two countries, and their future with one another.Amazon.com Review
The discovery of oil in Saudi Arabia led to a relationship between the Saudis and Americans that made all the sense in the world and, at the same time, no sense at all. Economically, it was a dynamic and effective model. The Americans were able to purchase more oil as car ownership in the United States escalated throughout the 20th century, meanwhile the Saudis were able to take that money and use it to buy all the latest products and technology from the Americans and transform their country from a pre-industrial kingdom a bustling modern civilization (complete, today, with Starbucks, McDonalds, and shopping malls). Making all this happen, however, meant situating thousands of American civilians in a country in which they simply did not fit. Veteran Middle East scholar and journalist Thomas Lippman's Inside the Mirage examines the 70-year history of the Saudi-American relationship. While he touches on the troubling issues that came to light after the events of 9/11, Lippman's exploration of the quasi-suburban world inhabited by American employees and their families proves most fascinating. Many Americans profiled seem to have been transported out of an old episode of Leave it to Beaver and dropped, in tact, in the middle of a desert nation, dwelling in cordoned off communities and having little contact with the Saudis outside of what was professionally necessary. Cultural and religious differences provide stark contrast between the Americans and the fundamental form of Islam practiced by the Saudi royal family and prevalent throughout the kingdom.These differences combined with the inherent pressures of great wealth and big business to form a relationship that is vitally important to both countries but that was tenuous to begin with and, as Lippman explains has remained so ever since. --John Moe ... Read more

Customer Reviews (11)

Book: Inside the Mirage
If you've lived in Saudi Arabia you will appreciate the insight this book provides as well as how it brings back memories of the way things were.

Very well written!!!

Should be Required Reading for Americans
Both well written and well documented, this book provides a basic history of the US-Saudi Relationship, a relationship that basically spans the existence of the country. A sizable chunk of the book deals with the oil industry and this section of the book is especially illuminating, as foreign companies and governments behaved very differently in Saudi Arabia than in neighboring countries. The analysis of the oil industry's comportment in Saudi Arabia would have seemed almost too rosy to me, but I have read similar accounts from several others sources. Although the United States has dealt much more fairly with Saudi Arabia than with many other countries, this book left me somewhat depressed. It brings up so many compelling questions: Is it right for the US to deal with a government that is both non-democratic and sometimes downright repressive? Was there a way for this wealthy though sparsely populated country to protect itself without US involvement? Do the huge levels of unemployment breed fundamentalism in this wealthy country as poverty and class disparity seem to in poorer countries? I could go on. Lippman's book doesn't provide the answers; it is much more history than current analysis or policy-suggestion, but certainly worth reading for inspiring such reflection.

Refreshingly fair, balanced, and accurate (with a significant caveat)
Accept for the major caveat at the end, the book deserves the full 5-star rating, particularly since there are so many polemical and false books on the Kingdom available.Mr. Lippman has taken the time to interview numerous Americans and some Saudis on their interactions. His book chronicles the Saudi - American partnership, which he correctly asserts in the Prologue:"The people of Saudi Arabia have benefited, not suffered, from the American presence." He structures his book into various chapters focusing on different economic sectors.Naturally this begins `at the beginning,' with the discovery of oil in the Eastern Province in the `30's. (An excellent complement to these chapters is Stegner's book, "Discovery!"). Other chapters however break new ground, and cover sectors not discussed in other books, specifically the creation of SAMA (the Saudi Arabian Monetary Agency), with the concurrent development on a modern monetary system; the introduction of radio and TV; TWA's development of a modern airline system, along with the national carrier, Saudia; the Ford foundation's participation, and ultimate failure in developing governmental systems along American lines; the unusual background, and even more unusual function of JECOR (US-Saudi Arabian Joint Economic Commission) in which US government employees worked in an advisory role in virtually all the Saudi ministries. Personally I found the chapter "Down on the Farm" the most informative and fascinating, and it started with a tall blonde woman, age 23, arriving in Al-Kharj in 1950 to help manage a farm with her husband. Naturally there was also an informative chapter on the involvement of the US military in the development of their Saudi counterpart. More briefly, probably through lack of contacts, he covers those who worked at American schools as well as the medical sector.Regrettably, one of his chief medical references was Dr. Seymour Gray.As Mr. Lippman says about his serious lapses in medical ethics: "American doctors generally refrain from discussing their patients in public, at least by name, but no such compunction inhibited Seymour Gray (p 261).

Another excellent aspect of this book is that he updates two of the classic accounts of Saudi Arabia, Lacey's "The Kingdom," and Holden and Johns "The House of Saud," with chapters which cover the impact of the two Gulf Wars, as well as the impact on 9-11 on American-Saudi relations. By interviewing so many Americans who chose to work in Saudi Arabia, one is treated to snippets of insights into their own motivations for going to the Kingdom, and why for those who made the necessary cultural adjustment, they considered the country an attractive place to live. He renders a balanced assessment by Richard E. Undeland, an USIA employee who said: "there was much that was right, admirable, and promising" in Saudi Arabia. More tellingly still, there is a vignette involving General William H Riley Jr., in which he learns from the Saudis, as opposed to the normally assumed role that Americans can only teach; that the Saudis have nothing to teach us. (p 293).In three other separate chapters he deals with issues along that so-called, as well as the very real cultural divide, include Christian and Jewish practices in the Kingdom, and some of those Westerners who were caught up in the Kingdom's judicial system.

And therein lays the caveat. Lippman correctly reports the strong reluctance of any Saudi to admit the evolvement of their compatriots in the 9-11 attacks. Likewise there is a strong reluctance to admit that an American caught up in the Saudi judicial system might actually be guilty, or would fabricate how he was treated.Lippman got completely snookered in the case of Scott Nelson, as did the rest of the US media, even though this enormous red flag was flying, which Lippman reported.Nelson submitted a phony diploma indicating that he had an electrical engineering degree from MIT in order to secure a position as "monitoring systems engineer" at King Faisal Specialist Hospital. Lippman calls this action a "serious mistake," (p229) though stronger descriptions might be more appropriate. Why, oh why wouldn't a journalist not wonder that if Nelson lied about his credentials, and produced phony documents, what else might he lie about? Ask a few follow-up questions:What exactly is Nelson's educational background?Did he have any sort of education, or more importantly, did he possess any sort of KNOWLEDGE that would justify his assumption of the position of "monitoring systems engineer."? It would be a few short steps until the journalist asked Nelson the following: Perhaps you are the largest safety violation at the hospital, not the allegedly improperly connected gas lines?The lawyer defending HCA in this case did such a background check, uncovering a serial pattern of deception, which is one of the reasons the charges against the company were dismissed. Lippman could still review this case, not for the insights it might reveal about the Saudis, but for those about ourselves, and that "Orientalism" framework that we view events in the Middle East.

this is an absolutely fascinating book
This author describes an interesting history of Saudi Arabia and its relations with the U.S. The book traces the Saudi-American alliance from its emergence after the birth of the Kingdom in 1932 and the signing a year later of the first oil-prospecting agreement with Standard Oil of California up until the present time, ending with a discussion of the strategic ties that bind the United States and Saudi Arabia. In particular, it describes the experience of many Americans who have worked in the Kingdom, giving particularly unique insight for instance into what it was like for many to work for Aramco, to be a wife of an Aramco worker, to be married to a Saudi male, or be involved in one of many other possible relations involving folks from the US and Saudi Arabia.Thomas W. Lippman is an adjunct scholar at the Middle East Institute in Washington. In four years as the Washington Post's Middle East bureau chief, three years as the Post's oil and energy reporter and a decade as the newspaper's national security and diplomatic correspondent, he has traveled extensively to Saudi Arabia. In all, he has spent more than thirty years as a reporter, editor, and foreign correspondent for The Washington Post, specializing in Middle Eastern affairs and American foreign policy. He is known for and described as writing in a very even-handed manner. Unlike most other books I have read, the author remains respectful towards the Saudi people. One of many messages that I got from his book is that some Americans have not been able to adapt to life in Saudi Arabia while others have done amazingly well at settling into the unique and very different culture. Americans who have been able to adjust to life in the Kingdom showed a great willingness to bend to Saudi's cultural norms and a willingness to reach out (and frequently live) outside of the compounds and/or otherwise seek opportunities to actually connect with Saudis. For instance, he talks of the Nance Museum in Missouri, perhaps the only museum dedicated to traditional Saudi Arabian art and crafts in the U.S., developed by a former Aramco couple (the Nances) who simply fell in love with the native traditions. Although Lippman acknowledges that there are a lot of problems in Saudi Arabia which they must face and resolve, he generally shows the Saudis in a very positive light.He has travelled to Saudi Arabia a number of times since September 11 and his last chapter discusses changes in Saudi culture since this terror attack.In the paperback version he has added an additional chapter.Lippman is a very responsible writer, taking seriously the affect he knows his words can have upon the reader.His love for the US is clear.However, he is not arrogant about his nationality.He also shows sympathy and agreement with many of the complaints registered by Arabs, while not being an apologetic.He is among the most diplomatic of all authors on Saudi Arabia and he concludes his book with at least the possibility for hope.Lastly, while admitting the need for real change - both in the U.S. and in Saudi Arabia - he doesn't feel the need to resort to cheap alarmist warnings.

A Beacon of Light
In the murky world of US/ Mid East foreign policy, this book shines like a beacon.One could only hope that Oprah might select this for her book club, rather than flying to a million piece.But that's my perfect world.Mr. Lippman has written an insightful and extremely well researched book that opens the curtains of US-Saudi alliance and friendship.The new paperback afterword, written in January 2005, provides timely insight: "The most important reason is that Saudi Arabia is no longer economically or technologically dependent upon the United States.The Saudis no longer need Americans to show them how to fly their planes, irrigate their crops, manage their money...."
I told my Polish friend about the book and then refused to give him my copy. He's a stickler for accurate history, and considers most American authors inadequate and biased.That he has ordered a copy is a remarkable compliment to the author. ... Read more

Product Description
Saudi Arabia is the centre of religious life for over one billion Muslims. It is the birthplace of Islam, Wahhabism, Osama bin Laden and most of the 9/11 hijackers. The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia controls over one quarter of the world's diminishing oil reserves and billions of dollars worth of investments in the West and is often referred to as the only 'family-owned business in the United Nations'. The way the Saudis think, express themselves, act, work and solve problems is of increasing and overwhelming significance to the world. This candid, penetrating view of the culture, history and evolution of Saudi Arabia offers a thorough understanding of how the country developed and why things are as they are. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

a hatchet job on the Saudis
This book is almost loony.

I picked it up because there are very few cultural studies of Saudi Arabia on the market, and the author's blurb on the back of the book states that the author has a PhD with an "emphasis in cultural anthropology."

There are plenty of books about the politics and religion of Saudi Arabia that have come out lately, but relatively few about its culture and customs.Perhaps the most useful to date is The Saudis: Inside the Desert Kingdom by Sandra MacKey, but even that's more the impressions of an American wife rather than a serious ethnographical study.Before that it was probably Wilfred Thesiger The Marsh Arabs.

And the Saudis are different enough from other Arabs as to certainly warrant their own ethnographical study.Problem is, they simply won't let ethnographers in because of concerns about secrecy and pride.

So along comes this book.

Like the author, I have several tours of Saudi under my belt and my opinion of the Saudis is pretty low.

But this book goes beyond the pale.It's just one insult after another without the kind of deeper analysis one would expect of a mind trained in modern anthropology.Here's a sample:

". . . their respect for privacy disappears in public.They routinely push and shove their way into the front of lines and airports and stores because it is beneath their dignity to wait for others.They believe that whoever demands attention will get it.In banks, several Saudi will elbow their way to the teller window as money is being paid out, much to the consternation of Westerners.Saudis also crowd the personal space that Westerners normally leave for each other, and will stand toe-to-toe and stare directly into the eyes of whomever they talk to."(p. 314)

This is as deep as the guy can go?No discussion of how their behavior can be seen in terms of social roles, expectations, etc?The author takes examples of boorish and uncivilized behavior that you do see from time to time and presents them as the norm, failing to point out that much of the behaviors described disgust other Saudis.In short, this is not a refined understanding of their culture.

So there still isn't, as far as I know, a decent, balanced book out there on the culture of the Saudis.The two I would recommend closest to the subject are The Arab Mind and The Closed Circle : An Interpretation of the Arabs, both of which are about Arabs generally, not just Saudis. ... Read more

Product Description
The Hashemite Kingdom of Arabia was forged in the crucible of the Arab Revolt in 1916, during World War I. Its leader, Sharif Husayn ibn 'Ali, struggled to put together a tribal confedereacy. This study examines Husayn's efforts at state formations, efforts that eventually failed. ... Read more

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To the outsider, the lands of Arabia have over many centuries represented a great mystery, a vast space on the map crossed by largely imaginary pathways, a terrain mastered only by skilful trackers, the "bedu" who could survive and thrive within that seemingly barren landscape. But in those travellers like Charles Doughty, T.E. Lawrence, Alois Musil, Harold Philby, Wilfred Thesiger and Bertram Thomas, who came to know the reality and true richness of the Arabian landscape, it engendered a passion and inspiration that perhaps no other land could have inspired. Arabia was for them a union formed of both land and people; it was not at all the void that so many of the early visitors had believed. Their respect and understanding for the peoples of Arabia is at the heart of this photographic record that they and other visitors have bequeathed to us. The images in this volume are unique in two senses. Firstly, the difficulties of producing any photograhic images at all in the arid and difficult conditions at the heart of the peninsula, or in the soaking humidity of the Red Sea or the Gulf coasts, makes them both scarce and precious; and these are also images of the highest visual quality.Secondly, the styles of life, the buildings and the landscape depicted here have, for the most part, disappeared for ever. These images are the last relics of a lost way of life. The selection reflects the approach of the author, who looks first for photographs which are fresh in their visual appeal and, where possible, unpublished. He then looks for images with a context - which relate to a specific event, or historical development. Finally, he looks for the rationale behind a photograph, the reason why it was taken or the purposes to which it has been put. The book records, at one remove, the heroic story of the creation of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, illustrating the stages of the foundation of the Kingdom, leading to the peace and prosperity of the present day. The book also contains a number of images concerning King Abdul Aziz, one of the truly great figures of the 20th century. ... Read more

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A continuous sequence of British political reports from Saudi Arabia between the wars, these volumes provide information on the struggle for power, the unification of the Kingdom under Ibn Saud, and subsequent economic development. ... Read more

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This concise survey looks at Arab nationalism both as an historical movement and as a doctrine. It guides readers new to the subject through the diverse scholarly views about its origins, nature and intellectual significance.

The book identifies characteristics of Arab nationalism in the region in recent years, setting them in the context of political, economic, religious and cultural change throughout the Middle East. The author describes four distinct phases in the evolution of Arab nationalist ideas - the cultural, the political, the social and the fourth or current phase, in which both nationalism and democracy have resurfaced in a fresh encounter. He uses these stages as a basis for the discussion of ideology within an historical framework.

Students will appreciate the inclusion of study aids such as a list of dynastic chronologies, biographical entries on key figures , a glossary of unfamiliar terms and a guide to further reading. ... Read more

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With the continuing importance of Saudi Arabia in regional and world politics, the current and future effectiveness of the Saudi military carries increased significance. Despite recent strains in relations with the U.S., particularly in light of the role Saudis played in the events of September 11, 2001, the Kingdom remains America's key Arab ally. Cordesman studies the challenges faced by the Saudis from both their allies and their potential enemies to assess Saudi Arabia's ability to forge a better approach to collective security in the Gulf and to create more stable long-term security arrangements with the U.S. and other Western Powers. This assessment of Saudi Arabia's strategic position includes a full-scale analysis of Saudi military forces, defense expenditures, arms imports, military modernization, readiness and war fighting capability. It examines both the cooperation and tension with other Southern Gulf States. It explores the implications of the conventional military build-up and creeping proliferation of weapons of mass destruction in the Gulf and the resulting changes in Saudi Arabia's security position. All of these factors have critical implications for stability within the Kingdom, within the Gulf, as well as in the broader global context. ... Read more

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Since its launch in 2006, SaudiDebate.com has become the foremost independent, English-language Web site to address issues facing contemporary Saudi Arabians. Adhering to a nonpartisan stance, the site fosters open debate between distinguished contributors from across the Arab world, quickly making it the chosen destination for perspectives on Arabia and the wider Arab Middle East.

The Kingdom brings together for the first time a targeted selection of these writings, providing readers with much-needed context for the role of Saudi Arabia in the world today. Contributors include such established figures as Madawi Al-Rasheed, Khalid Al-Dakhil, Badriyyah Al-Bishr, Saad Sowayan, and Mona Eltahawy. Chapter topics range from reformism under King Abdullah to Saudi Arabia's position as a regional power broker, speaking to the breadth of issues that currently preoccupy Saudis and other Arab intellectuals.

This collection particularly illuminates the struggle to build a modern society with respect to religious, cultural, and historical traditions. Divided into four sections, the volume specifically tackles domestic politics in Saudi Arabia, the kingdom's role in regional affairs, studies of Saudi society, and Saudi cultural and religious life.

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Saudi Arabia: National Security in a Troubled Region provides a comprehensive, up-to-date analysis of Saudi Arabia's strategic security efforts, both within the country and as a stabilizing regional presence. In this meticulously researched book, acclaimed geopolitical scholar Anthony Cordesman, well-known for his role as ABC News's national security analyst, takes readers inside the Saudi security structure for an unprecedented look at its internal and external forces, policymaking, and careful balancing of regional and East/West relationships.

In Saudi Arabia, Anthony Cordesman shows how the Kingdom is responding to an unstable Iraq, a potentially nuclear Iran, the needs of its fellow Southern Gulf states, and the ongoing threat of terrorism inside its borders. Cordesman also considers a number of socioeconomic and demographic factors that could bring dramatic changes within the Kingdom in the near future. Nonpartisan, unbiased, and based on the author's unparalleled access to high profile Saudi officials, the book offers a level of expertise and insight no other consideration of the subject can match.

Customer Reviews (1)

First four years after Hicrat
This Volume covers the first four years after the Hicrat. Among various excurcios to neighbouring tribes or caravans the volume covers Badr and Uhud battles. Marriage of Mohammed (AS) to HZ. Aisah, conflicts with Jews in the city of Madina. Tabari usesIbn Ishak, Ibn Hisham as his sources and time to time provides variant stories on same subject with chain of isnads. Contrary to his Tafsir, he does not say which one is more acceptable to him. The translators have some preface and time to time expalanatory commentary in Fine Prints which I found most of them unacceptable. I did not appreciate sometimes their twisted opinions in a book which is supposed to be a translation. But again I appreciate their work for making this book available to English readers. ... Read more

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Journey into the Arabian desert, a place few outsiders have ever visited. With an insight and sensitivity that reveal her love of this region, Isabel Cutler demystifies the landscape and people in Mysteries of the Desert. Dramatic lighting, shadows, and cloud patterns punctuate the moody desertscapes and provide a fascinating counterpoint to portraits of the vibrant Bedouins who live in this stark land. Cutler's full-color photographs celebrate the hearty life in the desert, exploring the subtle patterns made by windswept dunes, sand textures produced by the erosion of rock, and relics of ancient palaces. Accompanying the evocative images are excerpts from classic and modern Arabic verse--a tribute to the rich oral and written poetry traditions of the culture. This captivating book reveals the timeless essence of the land and its people.
... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

A Treasure of a Book
This book is a gift to read - which may be why I keep ordering additional copies to give as gifts to my friends.The photographs, taken over a twenty-five year journey into the Aranbian desert are combined with exquisite poetry selections that beautifully articulate the visual images.Through the book I've journeyed to a part of the world I'd never seen.Included are pictures of Bedouin men and women, camels, and the most sensuous desert imaginable.A rare book that's a real tour de force.

An Unlikely Tool to Dispel Racism
I stumbled upon this book and could not believe how timely it is. Not only does this lovely photographic book feature beautiful images of sand dunes and people in far away places, accompanied by imaginative poetry, but it shows the side of Arabia that President George Bush and New York City Mayor Rudolph Guiliani, among others, are asking us to remember in light of the difficult times.

We are lucky to have at our fingertips, in a moment of need, an artistic expression of this part of the world to remind us of beauty and not fear.

I intend to share this book with as many people as I can, not only because of the stunning photography and magical poetry, but because I have found solace in its pages.

I proudly display it in my library. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Memoir - Everything Old Is New Again
The phrase "everything old is new again," is not meant to apply to the institution of the Harem, I hope. Instead, I am applying it to the sense I got when reading this 1983 account of EVERYDAY LIFE IN THE HAREM, by Babs Rule, that what was then billed as an account, an example of personal reporting diguised by the fiction of letters to various people "back home," would today be called a memoir.



As memoir, it is the story of the invitation to Babs Rule, an American businesswoman, to visit a Saudi Arabian harem, the home of her daughter and grandson. It was, as she portrays it, a kind invitation to a grandmother isolated from her one-year-old grandson by culture, religion, and most of all sheer distance.



She spent three months in the harem, which as the meaning of the term develops in Rule's book, is where the sons under ten years old, the daughters, and the wives of Saudi royalty and wealthy traditionalists spend their days and nights. Rule's daughter has married a Saudi prince she met in the United States, and traveled with him to live in Saudi Arabia, where their son was born.



Rule describes here the expected opulence and unanticipated tedium in the everyday life of the harem. What to me makes it a memoir, although the timecovered is less than four months, is the development of understanding and insight by Rule, and the drama of her escape from the harem. The remaining suspense is what will become of her daughter and grandson in the institution of the harem, in Saudi, or in the United States.



While Rule's book is almost 25 years old, many of her insights into the cultural differences between the conservative Islamic monarchy of Saudi Arabia and the industrialized commercialized liberationist USA are worth pondering today.



And it makes a neat memoir, and a fast and suspenseful book to read. ... Read more