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From the Holy Mountain by William Dalrymple
This is my favourite piece of travel writing ever! Dalrymple undertakes a fascinating journey across the
modern Middle East, tracing the footsteps of two monks who made the same journey in 587 AD. Along the way he encounters Christian communities that continue to survive against the odds, in places such as
Turkey, Syria, the West Bank and Egypt. Dalrymple’s scholarship is extraordinary: the book makes an excellent introduction to the history of Eastern Christianity. However, his observations of the present
day are equally spot on, at times moving, profound or downright hilarious! Essential.
Buy this book now!
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Beyond the Pyramids by Douglas Kennedy
This is a side-splittingly funny account of Kennedy’s journey through the ‘real’ Egypt - not just the usual tourist
traps of pyramids, temples and museums. Although this book is perhaps now a little out of date, it is still highly pertinent - although it will perhaps appeal more to those who have already visited the
country than those looking to make their first visit. The accounts of Kennedy’s brushes with Egyptian officialdom are a particular highlight...
Buy this book now!
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In an Antique Land by Amitav Ghosh
As an Indian in Egypt, Amitav Ghosh is able to view the country from a unique perspective. Having spent long periods
living in an isolated village in the Delta, he is also able to report on a side of Egyptian life rarely seen by foreigners. Ghosh has another peculiar angle all of his own - he investigates the links
that have existed between Egypt and India over the centuries and discovers that the relationship between the two countries goes back much further than one might think.
Buy this book now!
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Kingdom of the Film Stars: Journey into Jordan
by Annie Caulfield
This book is both a travelogue and a love story. In it, Annie Caulfield tells the tale of how she fell in love with a Jordanian Bedouin, and details her subsequent travels
around the country. Although Caulfield’s observations about Jordan are both interesting and astute, the ‘love story’ element is perhaps the most revealing, and the accounts of the trials and tribulations
of maintaining a long distance relationship between two people from very different cultures are both moving and fascinating.
Buy this book now!
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The Pharaoh’s Shadow by Anthony Sattin
In The Pharaoh’s Shadow Anthony Sattin recounts his journey through modern Egypt in search of ancient survivals from pharonic times. In the process, much is revealed about the culture and way of life of Egyptians in the twentieth century. Immensely readable and frequently very funny, this is an amazing book which will grace any bookshelf!
Buy this book now!
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