Book Description

Illustrated with drawings and photographs, this travelogue of William Seabrook contains his reminiscences among several Middle Eastern cultures. As a writer and would-be traveler, Seabrook was particularly drawn to the Middle East, the "Arabia" of his book, an area not always safe for non-Muslims to travel in his day. Written with all the voice and presence of an adventurer, he narrates his time with the Bedouins, the Druses, Dervishes, and Yezidees. Always with a penchant for the unusual, he chronicles the exotic and unexpected during his exciting journey; the golden calf among the Druses and the devil worship of the Yezidees make fine examples. As a period piece and a snapshot of early twentieth-century Arabic culture, this travel book still has a draw for those interested in the Middle East.