East is WestJournalist, traveler, and writer Freya Stark wrote this book "as an armchair journey for the average reader" after discovering that contemporary knowledge of the Arab world in Europe and the United States was out of date. She gives an introductory history and political analysis of the region in the introduction, especially with respect to World War II, foreign presence in the region, and the region's future place in the world. This book, based on the author's travels, focuses particularly upon the Arabian Peninsula (specifically Aden in Yemen, where she was stationed by the British government as a diplomat), Egypt, Palestine, Syria, Jordan, and Iraq. Stark does not attempt to keep the narrative falsely impersonal; her status as a foreign woman traveling by herself was wildly uncommon, and the way her informants responded to her reflects that fact. |
Other editions - View all
Common terms and phrases
Aden aeroplanes Arab Legion Arab world Arabia army asked Azhar Baghdad Basra Britain British built Cairo centre centuries charming Christian cinema Colonel colonial Cyrenaica dark democracy desert Egypt Egyptian Embassy Emir of Dhala enemy Euphrates Europe eyes face Fascist feeling fighting foreign freedom friendly friends garden gathered German Government gown Habbaniyah hand heart hills Iraq Iraqi Islam Italian Jerusalem Kadhimain King Kirkuk Kurdistan ladies land live look Lulie Luxor medieval Middle East Minister modern morning Mosul Muhammad Muslim nations night Palestine Pasha Persian pleasant police political rebels Red Sea road round Rutba San'a Sayyid seemed Senussi Shaikh Shammar Sir Kinahan strange streets Syria tarbush teachers things thought Tigris told took town Transjordan trees tribes troops turbans Turkish Turks village walls watch Western Yemen young effendi Zionist