- Paperback: 264 pages
- Publisher: Tauris Parke Paperbacks (24 Nov 2009)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 1848851464
- ISBN-13: 978-1848851467
- Product Dimensions: 19.6 x 13 x 1.8 cm
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Amazon Bestsellers Rank:
76,798 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #83 in Books > Travel & Holiday > Countries & Regions > Middle East
- #88 in Books > History > Religious History > Islam
- #95 in Books > Religion & Spirituality > Islam
- See Complete Table of Contents
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Product Description
Review
'A captivating analysis of the Englishmen whose writings on the inhabitants of the Arabian desert enhanced what the author rightly terms a 'powerful imperial myth'. Her analysis of where reality failed to match up to fantasy is cool and compelling.' --The Economist
'Entertaining and well written.' --Malise Ruthven, London Review of Books
'The attraction of the Middle East for the English upper-middle-class is carefully - and amusingly - analysed.' --Richard Trench, The Middle East
'Entertaining and well written.' --Malise Ruthven, London Review of Books
'The attraction of the Middle East for the English upper-middle-class is carefully - and amusingly - analysed.' --Richard Trench, The Middle East
Product Description
For certain Englishmen the Arabian desert and its inhabitants have always exercised a powerful fascination that has at times become an obsession. By the early nineteenth century, a tradition of writing about the Arabs was flourishing and Arabia had become 'a land whose name could evoke haunting echoes of the unconscious mind ... a country of the mind more real than any place on a map'. Looking at the lives of the four most influential Victorian writers on Arabia - Richard Burton, Gifford Palgrave, Wilfrid Blunt and Charles Doughty - as well as exploring the legend of T.E. Lawrence, Kathryn Tidrick reveals how these lonely figures merged into a collective image of the Englishman adventuring in desert lands, pushing himself to the limits of physical and mental endurance, surviving and prevailing because he understood the natives better than they understood themselves - an image that lent powerful support to imperial pretensions and formed the basis of western understanding of Arabia for generations to come. Riveting and revealing, 'Heart Beguiling Araby' tells the story of a deep and lasting obsession and its effect on the very different men who experienced it. 'A book of remarkable readability, of understanding and interpretation without cynicism.' - Geoffrey Grigson, Country Life; 'Teems with ideas, expressed in a firm muscular style that never once lets her down... develops her themes with skill, perception and considerable élan.' - John Julius Norwich, Punch; 'An outstanding study on the myth of England's special relationship with the Arabs.' - Robert Harbinson, Irish Press; '...superlative, subtle and profoundly illuminating...written in a wonderfully lucid, jargon-free style, proving that good, clear, elegant English can still be a vehicle for new perceptions, new approaches and new discoveries.' - Christopher J. Walker, Middle East International; 'Kathryn Tidrick's entertaining and well-written study provides ample support for [Edward] Said's argument that 'knowledge equals power' and can be made to serve its ends.' - London Review; 'This is a lively well-written and stimulating book and deserves a place on the library shelf of anyone interested in Britain's moment in the Middle East.' - Molly Izzard, Arabia Islamic World Review; 'For the reader interested in the relationship between the British and the Arabs, Tidrick's book is just the work to read. It is a fascinating story and she tells it elegantly.' - The Jerusalem Post Magazine
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Amazon.com:
1 review
glad to see this is back in print
22 July 2010
Format:Paperback
Wonderful book. Highly readable. For the longest time it was totally out of print. I liked it so much that after reading my library's copy, I had no choice but to xerox and bind the entire thing because it was so worth having on my shelf. Fortunately thanks to Tauris Parke, such extremes are no longer necessary.
It's basically a survey of the madness of the Arabist: the recurrent theme in English culture that Arabia is a place of stark beauty, sensuality, arcane mysteries, austere manliness, etc. Tidrick doesn't exactly set out to "disprove" any of that: that's not the angle of the book. Instead, it's just a look at the crazy ideas of poets, novelist, and statesmen about Arabia. But it is about the English, not about the Arabs at all, really.
I found it very enjoyable.
Note: this book is not exactly for the general reader. While not scholarly, the book does assume you're familiar with Middle Eastern history, English history, and English literature. For example, if it has to be explained to you who Cromer and Philby were, you're going to have a tough time with this book.
If perchance you have a friend who is an Arabist and doesn't know about this book, it will make the perfect gift.
First published 1981. Doesn't go further than Gertrude Bell, by the way.
It's basically a survey of the madness of the Arabist: the recurrent theme in English culture that Arabia is a place of stark beauty, sensuality, arcane mysteries, austere manliness, etc. Tidrick doesn't exactly set out to "disprove" any of that: that's not the angle of the book. Instead, it's just a look at the crazy ideas of poets, novelist, and statesmen about Arabia. But it is about the English, not about the Arabs at all, really.
I found it very enjoyable.
Note: this book is not exactly for the general reader. While not scholarly, the book does assume you're familiar with Middle Eastern history, English history, and English literature. For example, if it has to be explained to you who Cromer and Philby were, you're going to have a tough time with this book.
If perchance you have a friend who is an Arabist and doesn't know about this book, it will make the perfect gift.
First published 1981. Doesn't go further than Gertrude Bell, by the way.
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