English authors in Islamic societies


A compelling account of Arabian culture chronicled through the eyes of a British writer


David Urch's compelling account of his years in Saudi Arabia belongs to a longstanding and important tradition of English authors rendering their encounters with Islamic societies.


These works range from the letters of Lady Mary Wortley Montagu to T E Lawrence's Seven Pillars of Wisdom and the accounts of Freya Stark. Like its predecessors, An Englishman in Riydah cleverly and poignantly weaves aspects of Islamic and Arabian culture into a delightful tapestry of storytelling.


Urch's stories are wonderfully told and realised, illustrating Arabian culture as he lived it while launching the English Service for the Ministry of Information. Urch powerfully encapsulates a vivid sense of place which drives the pathos, the impending disaster, and the unexpected twists towards a (usually) happy ending. The magic of Arabia has certainly been taken home with David!