Download Heart Beguiling Araby The English Romance with Arabia Tauris Parke Paperbacks Kathryn Tidrick 9781848851467 Books

Product details Series Tauris Parke Paperbacks Paperback 264 pages Publisher Tauris Parke Paperbacks (December 15, 2009) Language English ISBN-10 1848851464

Heart Beguiling Araby The English Romance with Arabia Tauris Parke Paperbacks Kathryn Tidrick 9781848851467 Books Reviews

• 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.