Terence Clark - Böcker

The original manuscript of On Hunting was presented to the Hafsid Sultan of North Africa al-Mustansir bi-Allah, known as al-Mansur, in 1247. He was a passionate hunter with Saluqis, falcons and other predators on his estate at Bizerte. The complete book apparently dealt with all aspects of hunting and falconry but only Parts VII and VIII of Volume IV of the original seven volumes remains, which Abdulhafedh Mansour of Tunis University published as an edited text in Arabic in 1989. This book covers in particular the selection, breeding, feeding and training of Saluqis for hunting, and the treatment of canine diseases. It also deals with hunting with other predators, such as cheetahs, and by other means. It concludes with a long catalogue of animals and birds suitable for hunting. This work draws heavily on earlier classical sources probably in Arabic translations and combines the essence of the medieval Arab view of both the theoretical and practical sides of preparing the Saluqis and other predators for the chase and on the objects of the chase themselves. It is therefore a fascinating window on both the medieval Arabic world, and the history of hunting and dogs.

Recent events have once again focused international attention on the volatile politics of the Gulf region. This new book, by three former British ambassadors – all with long service in the region – demonstrates the importance of the Gulf for Britain from the days of Elizabeth I to the present. It tells the story, through the life and works of the British diplomats and consuls and the missions in which they worked, of Britain’s involvement, first for trade and later for strategic purposes, in the four key regional states of Iran, Iraq, Kuwait and Oman. With wit and insight, the book traces the origins of today’s problems from the Ottoman and Persian empires to the 1991 Gulf War and its aftermath. Those who know the region will find this a refreshing new slant on an old story, while those new to the subject will enjoy the mixture of politics and personalities ably described and analysed.