Set in an unnamed Persian Gulf kingdom in the 1930s, this remarkable novel tells the story of the disruption and diaspora of a poor oasis community following the discovery of oil there. The meeting of Arabs and the Americans who, in essence, colonized the remote region is a cultural confrontation in which religion, history, superstition, and mutual incomprehension all play a part.
Powerful political fiction that it is, Cities of Salt has been banned in several Arab countries, including Saudi Arabia. This novel, the first volume in a quintet, has been translated from the Arabic to English by Peter Theroux.
"Brings to life many of the political issues that have plagued the Mideast for most of this century...Munif writes from a unique vantage point: English-language readers have been given few opportunities before now to look at this situation through native eyes." -Publishers Weekly
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