Chapter 39: Middle East

A quilt of dust drapes a trail that leads sheikhs and tribes of men through rolling golden dunes as far as the eye can see, to one destiny, Million Street. On this short strip of road is a tapestry of voices melodically spewing intermingled words, blasting through crackling megaphones attached to SUVs—each imminent voice sounding more and more like a used-car salesman, beckoning the ears of a buyer for his four-legged fortunes. Roadside, men of deep bedouin roots and conviction, from Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, and Saudi Arabia, mingle with their desert ships—or camels, for those not from this land. Welcome to the Mazayin Dhafra Camel Festival.

The Middle East is rich with written works. Arab literary figures have left a great many beautiful and influential texts throughout history. Particular examples have remained more popular than the most famous kings.

Here are five novels from the 20th century that are very important because of their impact and popularity—or rather, notoriety—with certain establishments in the Arabic-speaking world.

It’s hard to talk about surfing in a war zone without someone making a reference to the classic scene in Coppola’s Apocalypse Now. But here in the Middle East, things are a little different. In our world, Charlie does surf, and there’s nothing we want more than to share a few waves with him.

In 1996 I had the opportunity to interview professor Edward Said. Throughout his career as a critic, theorist, advocate, and teacher, Said questioned Western attitudes towards “other” peoples and places. Orientalism—perhaps his best-known book—is considered a seminal work in the field of postcolonialism. In spite of his relative fame, Professor Said was very down to earth while he discussed his world-renowned theories.