Medina Publishing Ltd – förlag

From the Arab world comes a love story between an Arab man and an American woman that lasted more than half a century. Their lives spanned both sides of the Jordan River, and their love was tested by the traditions of an ancient and proud Christian tribe and the contrasts between their cultures. Although surrounded by conflicts in the Middle East, they built family hotels that survive as a tribute to his dreams and strength and her unwavering determination to support him.

At the end of March 1937, Geraldine Rendel found she had achieved a trio of unintended distinctions. As the first Western woman to travel openly across Saudi Arabia as a non-Muslim, the first to be received in public by King 'Abd al-'Aziz, and the first to be received at dinner in the royal palace in Riyadh, she had joined a tiny coterie of pioneering British woman travelers in Arabia.Until the 1930s, a journey by any foreigner, male or female, across Arabia was a rare event. But when in 1932 the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia was proclaimed, increasing numbers of diplomats and oil company representatives began to make their way to its remote desert capital, Riyadh, aided by the arrival of the motorcar. With the car came the camera, and the pictures by the Rendels, both of them keen photographers, rank among the finest from the period.Geraldine's husband George, head of the Eastern Department of the Foreign Office, had been responsible for Britain's relations with Saudi Arabia since 1930. When he and his wife were invited to the Kingdom by King 'Abd al-'Aziz for a visit combining diplomacy with travel, he accepted with alacrity. The couple kept a detailed diary, on which Geraldine drew to write a lively account that she intended for publication. In contrast to her husband, who had serious political business to conduct, she treats their journey as a holiday. In the event her narrative, full of vivid social encounters, humor and insights into the women's side of life, failed to appear in print, and is published here for the first time.Combined with the couple's striking images, this book presents a unique picture of Saudi Arabia on the verge of modernization.William Facey's biographical introduction interweaves the story of Geraldine's adventurous life with the evolution of Anglo-Saudi relations in the 1920s and '30s, so placing the Rendels' trans-Arabian journey in its political context.

Prison Time in Sana'a tells the story of Dr Abdulkader Al-Guneid's harrowing experience inside jail in Yemen's capital shortly after it was taken over by Houthi rebels. In his hometown of Taiz, Al-Guneid, a medical doctor, had been an outspoken figure on Yemeni politics for decades. In recent years, his social media and interviews were read around the world and attracted a global following from an audience anxious to hear an unbiased explanation of the underlying roots of the conflict. Ultimately, his activism placed him in the movement's crosshairs, leading to his abduction on 5 August 2015 and incarceration in an undisclosed Houthi jail in Sana'a. For the next 300 days, Al-Guneid shared his time with American hostages, Houthi fighters, Al Qaeda militants and ordinary Yemenis caught up in the chaos of war. Following his release, he wrote about his experience in exhaustive and gripping detail from exile in Canada. Initially typing his entire account on his mobile phone, his story has since been distilled into a deeply personal account of his incarceration offering an extraordinarily candid perspective on the Yemen crisis from deep within Houthi-held territory.

The Afghanistan File, written by the former head of Saudi Arabian Intelligence, tells the story of his Department's involvement in Afghanistan from the time of the Soviet invasion in 1979 to Nine Eleven 2001. It begins with the backing given by Saudi Arabia to the Mujahideen in their fight against the Soviet occupation, and moves on to the fruitless initiatives to broker peace among the Mujahideen factions after the Soviet withdrawal, the rise to power of the Taleban and the shelter the Taleban gave to Osama Bin Laden.A theme that runs through the book is the extraordinary difficulties Saudi Arabia and its allies had in dealing with the Mujahideen. Prince Turki found them magnificently brave, but exasperating. On one occasion in trying to arrange peace among them, he got permission from the King to open the Kaaba in Mecca, and had the leaders go inside, where they were overcome with emotion and swore never to fight each other again . A few hours later on their way to Medina they almost came to blows on the bus.Turki's account gives details of the Saudi attempts in the 1990s to bring its volunteers out of Afghanistan - with chequered success - and his negotiations with the Taleban for the surrender of Osama Bin Laden. The book includes a number of declassified Intelligence Department documents.Prince Turki explains that the nihilistic, apparently pointless terrorism that has been seen in the Middle East in the last twenty years had its origins in Afghanistan with Osama's deluded belief that he had helped defeat the Russians. There is no evidence that he ever fought them at all. Soon after Nine Eleven Saudi Arabia discovered that it had a home grown terrorist problem involving some of the returnees from Afghanistan. Much of the huge change that has taken place in the Kingdom since has stemmed from the campaign to tackle this.

A heart wrenching children's story. A little girl comes across a malnourished cheetah cub caged at the back of a small shop in an Arab souq. Her mother agrees to buy the animal to save its life, and the little girl rears the cub at their house until it grows into a fine young cheetah. The cheetah and the girl are inseparable friends, but they know one day he will need to return to Africa where he can roam free. Beautiful illustrations flow throughout the narrative and bring this enchanting tale to life.

Whether fashionable or unfashionable, which of us doesn’t use proverbs all the time? They are an indispensable vehicle of popular wisdom and a lively contributor to educated speech. Proverbs are forever evolving. This collection of Italian proverbs is intended to bring a smile of recognition to its readers.

The first book of its kind to be published for a general readership from youngsters upwards, Hidden in the Sands: Uncovering Qatar's Past is the fascinating, fun and educational story of Qatar's heritage and the exciting discoveries being made by archaeologists. This informative and delightful book is published through the generosity of Maersk Oil as part of its programme to support education and unlock Qatar's history and heritage. Hidden beneath the sand and sea and revealed on rocks are the clues which explain why this ancient land has been such a key region throughout history. Here you can follow the detective work of archaeologists and discover Qatar's rich past. In conjunction with a fully interactive website and also available in an Arabic edition, Hidden in the Sands describes in words and pictures the treasures uncovered by archaeologists, the methods they use, and the significance of their discoveries. Today, using state-of-the-art technology for excavation, dating and conservation, teams of experts are working all over Qatar to reconstruct its past.Hidden in the Sands is fully illustrated with photographs, maps and diagrams, and embellished by the vivid and evocative illustrations of the artist Norman MacDonald. Told simply and with in-depth and up-to-date detail, it leads readers through the fascinating world of archaeology. Like reconstructing an earthenware jar from a hundred little shards, this work pieces together the fragments of the past to produce a complete and beautiful whole.

The first book of its kind to be published for a general readership from youngsters upwards, Hidden in the Sands: Uncovering Qatar's Past is the fascinating, fun and educational story of Qatar's heritage and the exciting discoveries being made by archaeologists. This informative and delightful book is published through the generosity of Maersk Oil as part of its programme to support education and unlock Qatar's history and heritage. Hidden beneath the sand and sea and revealed on rocks are the clues which explain why this ancient land has been such a key region throughout history. Here you can follow the detective work of archaeologists and discover Qatar's rich past. In conjunction with a fully interactive website and also available in an Arabic edition, Hidden in the Sands describes in words and pictures the treasures uncovered by archaeologists, the methods they use, and the significance of their discoveries. Today, using state-of-the-art technology for excavation, dating and conservation, teams of experts are working all over Qatar to reconstruct its past.Hidden in the Sands is fully illustrated with photographs, maps and diagrams, and embellished by the vivid and evocative illustrations of the artist Norman MacDonald. Told simply and with in-depth and up-to-date detail, it leads readers through the fascinating world of archaeology. Like reconstructing an earthenware jar from a hundred little shards, this work pieces together the fragments of the past to produce a complete and beautiful whole.

In 1955, Reginald Gill—milkman and part-time illegal bookie—took his 12-year-old son Roy to the Spring meeting at Epsom Downs Racecourse. It was a trip that started a lifelong passion for racing. In the half-century since, Roy Gill has visited every racecourse in the UK and Ireland at least once and continues to attend races whenever he can. Many courses have been closed down, and some have moved their locations, but every racecourse he visited is vividly recalled in this very personal and highly readable account. He has included the new courses at Great Leighs and Ffos Las and returned to Wolverhampton and Limerick, which have moved from their original locations. Along with brief histories of every racecourse visited, the highs and lows of both Flat and National Hunt racing are revealed here by an acknowledged expert—and bona fide Turf Accountant. The book is beautifully illustrated with photographs (many of them previously unseen and unpublished), course diagrams, and fascinating racing memorabilia. It includes noteworthy occurrences and behind-the-scenes stories of each venue, as well as personal anecdotes about the courses, the horses, the jockeys, and trainers. Told with humour and passion, this entertaining and informative work is essential reading for all lovers of the Turf, and also a valuable spotlight on the sporting and social history of these sceptered isles.

The mysterious black C-Bean is a remarkable device which, as Alice and her classmates discovered in SeaBEAN (the first book in The SeaBEAN Trilogy), knows just about everything and can take them anywhere in the world. But now it's broken and stranded on the rocks on the remote Scottish island of St Kilda. When Karla Ingermann, the C-Bean's designer, turns up from Germany to try to fix it, they perform a factory reset, which accidentally sends it back in time, and Alice's world is thrown into disarray. Chased by Victorian police, attacked by an enemy submarine, imprisoned with a madwoman, summoned to rescue a dying pilot and fired at by government agents, Alice, together with her parrot, her dog and her new wartime companions, embarks on a journey through time, uncovering dark secrets from St Kilda's past and safeguarding the future before it's too late.

In the thrilling final part of The SeaBEAN Trilogy, Alice and her five classmates are - for reasons they have yet to discover - abducted to 2118 in the C-Bean, their time-travel device, only to find the world is a difficult and alienating place. How will they survive their terrifying ordeal? Who can help them figure out a way to get back to their own time? Will they escape before their captor Commander Hadron catches up with them? Who is he anyway and what's his connection to the mysterious Dr Foster? Unsettled by the devastation they find everywhere in the future and armed with new knowledge about the C-Bean's ultimate purpose, Alice and Co scour the planet, confronting many challenges in pursuit of answers to their questions. But can they figure out a way to restore the Earth's delicate ecological balance for good?

The remarkable story of one man's journey to leadership of the world's largest energy company, The Caravan Goes On, is the first published inside account of the workings of the corporation by a CEO and represents a significant addition to the literature on the turbulent development of the world's oil industry. Frank Jungers, former President, Chairman, and CEO of the petroleum giant Aramco, tells the inside story of his three decades in Saudi Arabia (1947–1978) with the world's largest oil-producing company.A North Dakota farm boy, Jungers rose to the top of one of the most important hydrocarbon enterprises ever, a company that eventually found itself responsible for nearly one-quarter of the world's oil resources. He writes of his face-to-face encounters with King Faisal and other Saudi leaders, and his role in steering the company through major international crises that included the 1973 Arab-Israeli war, the dramatic oil price increases of the 1970s, the Arab oil embargo, and the OPEC hostage incident of 1975. Central to Jungers' story is his role in helping to develop Aramco's Saudi workforce in preparation for the eventual transfer of company ownership from four American oil majors to the Government of Saudi Arabia. He explains the unique nature of the ownership transfer, which was remarkably different from the bitter nationalisation processes seen in Iraq, Libya, Iran, and Venezuela. Jungers describes how Aramco and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, in an important sense, grew up together, and he highlights the crucial role played by Aramco in the development of the young nation's infrastructure and economy.This personal, colourful, and up-close view is essential reading for oil-industry watchers, as well as those interested in big business, geopolitics, America's role in the Middle East, and the extraordinary transformation and emergence of modern Saudi Arabia since oil was discovered in its Eastern Province.

The remarkable story of one man's journey to leadership of the world's largest energy company, The Caravan Goes On, is the first published inside account of the workings of the corporation by a CEO and represents a significant addition to the literature on the turbulent development of the world's oil industry. Frank Jungers, former President, Chairman, and CEO of the petroleum giant Aramco, tells the inside story of his three decades in Saudi Arabia (1947–1978) with the world's largest oil-producing company.A North Dakota farm boy, Jungers rose to the top of one of the most important hydrocarbon enterprises ever, a company that eventually found itself responsible for nearly one-quarter of the world's oil resources. He writes of his face-to-face encounters with King Faisal and other Saudi leaders, and his role in steering the company through major international crises that included the 1973 Arab-Israeli war, the dramatic oil price increases of the 1970s, the Arab oil embargo, and the OPEC hostage incident of 1975. Central to Jungers' story is his role in helping to develop Aramco's Saudi workforce in preparation for the eventual transfer of company ownership from four American oil majors to the Government of Saudi Arabia. He explains the unique nature of the ownership transfer, which was remarkably different from the bitter nationalisation processes seen in Iraq, Libya, Iran, and Venezuela. Jungers describes how Aramco and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, in an important sense, grew up together, and he highlights the crucial role played by Aramco in the development of the young nation's infrastructure and economy.This personal, colourful, and up-close view is essential reading for oil-industry watchers, as well as those interested in big business, geopolitics, America's role in the Middle East, and the extraordinary transformation and emergence of modern Saudi Arabia since oil was discovered in its Eastern Province.

At the age of seven, Francesco Scannella's world is turned upside down when he is uprooted from his English suburban home and sent to the heartland of the Cosa Nostra. He quickly forgets that he ever spoke English, surviving by the sharpness of his wit and the strength of his fists while adopting the machismo ways of his elders. Every day is a fight for survival; gang violence is the norm, and the Mafia rules.In this compelling memoir, Francesco Scannella opens a window on the true nature of Sicilians, explaining how and why they turn to the Mafia and depicting the desperate circumstances of life at the time. We are introduced to a strong new narrative voice that recounts tragic young love with wry humour and brutal honesty—narrating how a school friend became an assassin, along with explorations of politics, philosophy, cookery, and cryptozoology. Frank Sinatra makes an appearance, as does the father of the modern Mafia, Don Calo Vizzini.Sicilian Shadows, Francesco Scannella's first book, is a compelling story of loss of innocence, a homage to a homeland, and a history lesson about one of the most misunderstood societies in the world—light years away from the cosmopolitan Palermo and the paparazzi glitz of 1960s Italy.

The Namib Desert is a vast, arid expanse of constantly shifting gravel plains and dunes, covering more than 31,000 square miles along the western coast of Namibia, extending into Angola and South Africa. Relentless winds sweep across the landscape, while thick fog frequently blankets the towering coastal dunes. Despite supporting a diverse array of flora and fauna, it remains a harsh environment for both man and beast.In the midst of this seemingly inhospitable region, near Garub, live the elusive wild horses that have captivated people for nearly a century. Into this wilderness ventured a young girl, armed with little more than a camera, a tent, and a burning desire to follow the call of the wild. As weeks turned into months, Miona Janeke trailed the herd from before sunrise until after dark, learning, understanding, photographing, and becoming one with the free-spirited horses.This book is the culmination of an intrepid pilgrimage to uncover the essence of the mysterious feral horse herds. The exquisite photographs within reveal a deep, almost spiritual connection between subject and photographer, standing as a testament to her rare talent and indomitable spirit.

2019 marks the golden anniversary of the mass musical gatherings that saw the hippiegeneration at their 1969 zenith. Two events stand out, staged within days of each other that magical August: in the United States, there was Woodstock, and in the UK the Isle of Wight Festival of Music.Woodstock drew 400,000 fans and a quality bill that was a Who's Who of contemporary talent - all bar the main man the organisers hoped to lure on the doorstep of his home, Bob Dylan. Instead, Dylan opted to headline at the Isle of Wight, in front of close to 200,000 adoring fans.Here Bill Bradshaw celebrates the events of that summer 50 years on... and how the Isle of Wight, off England's southern coast, staged what was then the nation's biggest festival - and how it pulled off such a huge coup. Eye-witness accounts from fans, artists and the promoters bring alive that gilded summer and how it influenced both Dylan and the rock festival movement for generations to come.

For a time, the Isle of Wight Festivals transformed a sleepy English island into the rock'n'roll capital of the world. From promoting a one-nighter in 1968, to raise funds for a local swimming pool, the young Foulk brothers were able to outperform Woodstock, by signing the world-exclusive appearance of rock's poet laureate, Bob Dylan. The de facto leader of the counterculture had been hidden away in the artist-town of Woodstock, rarely seen after a motorcycle accident three years earlier. He turned his back on the eponymous festival, put there to persuade him to come out and play, and left for Europe on the day their event began. For the Foulk brothers - lacking experience, resources and time - the coup and ensuing public response was almost overwhelming, but with audacious bravado and steely determination they delivered the most awaited event of the era. Devotees from hippies to celebrities flocked to the Island from mainland Britain, Europe, the Americas and as far away as Australia. As well as changing the lives of Ray and his brothers the phenomenon played its part in a highly transformative period for Bob Dylan, in which the Isle of Wight remained his one and only full concert appearance in seven-and-a-half years.

Surviving the Storm is an analysis, undertaken by the Windsor Energy Group over the past 12 years, focusing on the availability of an ample global energy supply over the next 35 to 50 years. It charts a way through the storm but warns of the many political conflicts and economic obstacles looming. With the effects of climate change and the growing damage to the Earth's atmosphere, catastrophe seems at first sight inevitable. The impact on international trade, economic growth and food supply could be critical. With a steadily rising global population and the ever-widening expectations of the billions who live in the non-OECD developing world, it is safe to assume that their global consumption of primary energy could come close to doubling within the coming years. Where is all this energy going to be found? Alternative energy is struggling hard to hang on to its tiny share of the global energy mix. Scientific research shows the dire consequences of doing nothing and the pressing need to accelerate the pace of developing much more efficient and energy-saving technology. The good news is that we have ample resources of oil, coal and gas to bridge the gap to these new technologies.However, we will have to maintain the current momentum of production of these fossil-based fuels and to invest heavily in expanding their capacity. The bad news is that we can only achieve this if we can simultaneously ensure that we can neutralise and curb their adverse impact on the atmosphere, agriculture, fisheries and urban air quality.

This intriguing odyssey, set on the edges of time, encompasses biography, memoir, detective story, travelogue and history to tell a remarkable tale of East-West connections and a mysterious love. The author's quest begins when the word 'indigo' draws her to the illustrated journals, now in the British Library, of Victorian traveller Thomas Machell. She finds her life to have striking echoes of his, not least travels to and within India, a career in indigo, and a passion for journal writing. She is also intrigued by his aspiration to write 'a novel in the form of an autobiography' and by his quirky watercolour sketches. Retracing his footsteps - overland and by sea - from his ancestral home in the hills and dales of northern England to remote parts of the Middle East and Asia, she is often in her own footsteps too. Machell of Crackenthorpe, born in 1824, first demonstrated his yearning for adventure when only twelve, and at sixteen left the family rectory to fulfil his childhood dream of travelling to the East.By chance, he witnessed many important historical events, including the infamous First Opium War and the Indian Mutiny that profoundly affected British-Indian relationships.Machell spent most of his adult life in India, 'the land of my destiny' as he calls it; the author tracks him to the indigo and coffee plantations of rural Bengal and Kerala's Malabar Hills, to little known regions of central India; to the China Seas and remote islands of Polynesia and through the deserts of Arabia. This spellbinding book brings to life Machell's untold story, that of a spirited outsider at the time of the British Raj reaching into the future. Serendipity, intuition and an enchanting relationship, as well as the author's quest to uncover the missing years of Machell's life, give this book its magical extra dimension.

A Soldier in Arabia reveals the behind-the-scenes story of the events which lead up to and followed the creation of the present day United Arab Emirates in December 1971, followed, a few months later, with Ras Al Khaimah joining the Federation. Soldier and adventurer David Neild was the youngest officer to serve in the legendary Trucial Oman Scouts when he joined them at the age of only 20 in 1959. In 1968 Sheikh Saqr bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, the Ruler of Ras Al Khaimah, with whom Neild had formed a good working relationship, called on Neild - now a Lt Colonel - to set up and command a national defence force for the Sheikhdom, with the rank of Lt Colonel. Then, in 1972 after the Ruler of Sharjah was assassinated, Neild was asked to establish and command the Sharjah National Guard.The account of Neild's career in Arabia is set against the backdrop of unrest and uncertainty and the emerging national politics of the day.It is both a valuable historic record as well as an entertaining and honest account told with empathy, and in the lean, objective style of a military man who, on a daily basis, had to balance the need for rapid political, strategic and tactical decisions with respect for the traditional ways of a complex tribal Arab culture.The evidence of his success is revealed through the enduring relationship that has been forged with HH Sheikh Saud bin Saqr Al Qasimi, son of the founding Ruler and his former employer, as well as the continuing presence and strength of both the Ras Al Khaimah and Sharjah Defence Forces.A Soldier in Arabia is a unique first-hand account of a life lived to the full during a significant period of history on the Arabian Peninsula. The author writes with understanding and insight of the sheikhs and soldiers, statesmen and scoundrels encountered along the way.Part memoir, part history, but always full of adventure, this compelling account will provide the reader with a better understanding of a part of the world frequently misunderstood by outsiders and an appreciation of the remarkable man who earned the lasting respect of both the leaders he served and the soldiers he led.

The author's vast falconry experience, combined with that of his fellow contributors, make this volume knowledge-heavy, yet light and entertaining in style. It covers all aspects of modern falconry, from the traditions that shaped the sport to its underlying ethics and philosophy as it continues to evolve in the 21st century. IIt takes readers on a global journey in search of the ultimate quarry species, sharing methods and motivations through the hawking experiences of those who pursue the most challenging flights in their art. Scottish red grouse and Belgian crows; houbara hawking with gyrfalcons and sakers; wood pigeon hawking with peregrines and goshawks; sand grouse, snipe and sage grouse with high-flying falcons: this book reflects the falconers' pride in the sport's traditions and their enthusiasm for its future development and evolution as a living heritage.

This is a love story from start to finish, Irene and Rachael's. Based on the diaries of Rachael Dixey who looked after her civil partner Irene after she developed early onset Alzheimer's disease, the book opens with the lines: Irene, Alzheimer's and me - Alzheimer's came between us. It does that, drives you and the love of your life apart, going your separate ways because you cannot follow. That's the story really, that's it. The end. But it is also the beginning of the story, which shows how life can still be lived despite losing a life partner to dementia, and how to cope emotionally and practically with a disease that robs you of your loved one a thousand times before they die. The story charts the daily decline and inexorable loss of Irene to dementia. With the dramatic deterioration in Irene's health Rachael turns from lover and soul mate to career and, finally, single woman. Eventually, no longer able to cope with Irene at home, she makes the agonizing decision to allow Irene to be put in a care home. There she spent her last six years. When she died aged 66, the couple had spent half their life together.This book is a powerful and moving account of the progression of dementia, and raises serious questions about how our society cares for those who develop the disease, especially at a young age and in the gay, lesbian community.It also deals with loss and grief, during the illness and afterwards. Their memoir will be invaluable for anyone affected by dementia, those working in mental health and those caring for a loved one with a life-changing and incurable illness. Our Dementia Diary tells with brutal honesty of love, loss and life with Alzheimer's and opens up discussion of how dementia can be handled better."

The journey, from the toilet seat to the tummy (and out again!), explores the concepts of germs being invisible to the naked eye, multiplying and causing illness. By placing their warm hands on the thermochromic patches, the multiplying germs are revealed.The simple, bright and bold illustrations by Charlie Evans allow children to develop an understanding of science and health from a young age, while having fun in the process.Written by Katie Laird, Senior Lecturer in Microbiology in the School of Pharmacy, De Montfort University with Sarah Younie and John Williams, and illustrated by Charlie Evans in bright, appealing drawings, A Germ's Journey is both educational and entertaining. There is also an interactive website (www.agermsjourney.com) designed to reinforce the message and where children can play while learning the importance of hygiene.

The English may say, 'Where there's a will there's a way,' and the Japanese, 'A concentrated mind pierces even a rock', but the meaning is clearly the same; 'Too many boatmen sail the boat up the hill' may be the same as the English, 'Too many cooks spoil the broth', but the Japanese version has a delightful absurdity about it which is illustrated in Kathryn Lamb's witty cartoon. These and many more proverbs and sayings feature in Where There's a Will There's a Way, which joins the family of six other bilingual illustrated proverb books, devised in 1985 by Primrose Arnander and the late Ashkhain Skipwith: three in Arabic, and one each in Italian, French and Chinese. Each title in the series gives the proverb in its original (and where the scripts are different, provides the original script and its transliteration), the literal translation and the English equivalent. They are not intended as weighty works of scholarship, but rather as a source of entertainment. They make the perfect gift, as well as being useful to language students, whatever their native tongue. The cartoonist Kathryn Lamb has brought her skills to all seven titles.

Emirates Diaries tells the story of how Peter Clark came to love the Emirates and its people. He got to know Abu Dhabi sheikhs and Dubai merchants and people at every level of society. The country was on the cusp of enormous economic expansion and this book is an affectionate picture of the Emirates when it was still like a chain of large informal villages. The people of the UAE were aware of their good fortune and were, he found, open, generous and innovative. Clark arranged for the explorer Wilfred Thesiger to return to the country he had celebrated before it became oil-rich. Thanks to Peter, Thesiger met up with his old companions who had accompanied him in crossing the Empty Quarter 40 years earlier. Peter embedded himself in the local cultural scene and translated stories by Dubai's best known writer, Muhammad al-Murr. Emirates Diaries tells of opera in Ras Al Khaimah, how Shakespeare was brought to large audiences of young people, how to organize a royal visit, an outbreak of foot and mouth disease among the oryx in the Al Ain zoo, the culture of camel racing and an unpaid bill left by Margaret Thatcher. The diaries sparkle with mischievous humor and acute observation.This book is a prequel to Peter Clark's Damascus Diaries: Life under the Assads, described by The Economist as 'quirky, digressive and indiscreet'.

Harriet's parents hoped that, after leaving boarding school and doing `the Season', she would meet and marry a suitable young man. But she was to disappoint them. Just after the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan, she set off for Peshawar to see for herself the plight of thousands of displaced Afghan refugees. Determined to do something about their dire situation, Harriet set up a small silk weaving project for illiterate Turkmen refugees, and was sent by UNESCO to Mazar-i-sharif to work with Afghanistan's last remaining silk ikat weavers. During those years she was arrested by the KHAD, narrowly missed being blown up, survived acute bacterial meningitis in a Kabul hospital, and rescued an abandoned pi-dog puppy who became her devoted companion.At the end of the first Gulf War she travelled with the Peshmerga in the newly-liberated Iraqi Kurdistan. Then in 1994 she joined a group of unemployed builders and decorators driving convoys of food and aid from Croydon to the Muslim enclaves in Bosnia Herzegovina. Much has been written about conflicts in these countries, by war correspondents, diplomats and military personnel, but this is a different story. It is about young woman from a sheltered and privileged background travelling and working alone, in and around war zones, frequently with no financial or practical support, at a time of increasing Islamic fundamentalism. Harriet left her traditional, comfortable home and chose to live a life of adventure and danger helping refugees who had nowhere else to turn. She continues to raise money for charity through her business selling oriental textiles and remains friends with the refugees she helped in Afghanistan. However, she is now married, to just the sort of husband her parents always hoped for.