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Arab countries -- Fiction Books
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William Beckford
Vathek; An Arabian Tale
"Vathek; An Arabian Tale" by William Beckford is a Gothic novel composed in French beginning in 1782 and first published in English in 1786. The story follows Vathek, a tyrannical ninth caliph consumed by insatiable thirst for forbidden knowledge. When a mysterious stranger offers him access to the legendary Palace of Underground Fire and its supernatural powers, Vathek descends into increasingly dark acts, sacrificing innocents and renouncing his faith. His obsessive quest leads him toward Istakhr and a fate that promises either ultimate power or eternal damnation.
George Meredith
The Shaving of Shagpat; an Arabian entertainment — Complete
"The Shaving of Shagpat; an Arabian entertainment — Complete" by George Meredith is a fantasy novel published in 1856. Written in the style of the Arabian Nights, this humorous oriental romance follows Persian barber Shibli Bagarag and enchantress Noorna on their quest to shave the tyrant Shagpat, whose magical hair enslaves an entire city. Their journey features magic swords, talking hawks, genies, and enchanted palaces. This imaginative allegory includes stories within stories and poetic interludes, creating a rich fantasy praised by George Eliot as a work of genius.
William Beckford
The History of Caliph Vathek
"The History of Caliph Vathek" by William Beckford is a Gothic novel composed in French beginning in 1782 and first published in English in 1786. The story follows Vathek, a depraved and tyrannical caliph with an unquenchable thirst for knowledge, who encounters a mysterious stranger promising magical treasures and access to forbidden power. Seduced by promises of ultimate knowledge and the keys to the Palace of Underground Fire, Vathek makes a dark pact that demands terrible sacrifices and leads him down a path of increasingly heinous acts, rejecting salvation at every turn.
H. Rider (Henry Rider) Haggard
The Brethren
"The Brethren" by H. Rider Haggard is a historical novel written during the late 19th century. It explores themes of chivalry, love, and the intense conflicts between the Crusaders and the Saracens in the Holy Land during the era of the Crusades. The narrative centers around two young knights, Godwin and Wulf D'Arcy, twins of noble blood, as they navigate love and loyalty in a world rife with warfare and impending doom. The story unfolds their relationship with Rosamund, their cousin, set against the backdrop of their encounters with the formidable Sultan Saladin and the romantic tensions surrounding their quest for honor and love. The opening of "The Brethren" introduces vivid characters and emotional stakes through a tapestry of relationships and impending conflict. It begins with a dedication where Haggard reflects on the nature of imagination and romance before moving into a prologue that hints at the struggles between the Christian and Muslim forces in the Holy Land, and the dreams of Saladin, who contemplates capturing his long-lost niece, Rosamund. As the narrative transitions to the first chapter, we are introduced to Rosamund, Godwin, and Wulf at Death Creek, where an ambush forces the brothers to defend her against masked attackers—their bravery revealing a blend of personal and national honor. The strong bonds and rivalries set within themes of love and duty effectively lay the groundwork for the intricate plot that Haggard weaves, promising readers an engaging historical adventure filled with emotion and action.
George Meredith
The Shaving of Shagpat; an Arabian entertainment — Volume 2
"The Shaving of Shagpat; an Arabian entertainment — Volume 2" by George Meredith is a fantasy novel published in 1856. Written in the style of the Arabian Nights, it follows Persian barber Shibli Bagarag and enchantress Noorna on their quest to shave the tyrant Shagpat, whose magical hair enslaves an entire city. Their journey involves a magic sword, talking hawks, genies, and enchanted palaces. This humorous oriental romance weaves stories within stories, blending adventure with poetic asides in a rich fantasy tapestry.
George Meredith
The Shaving of Shagpat; an Arabian entertainment — Volume 3
"The Shaving of Shagpat; an Arabian entertainment — Volume 3" by George Meredith is a fantasy novel first published in 1856. Written in the style of the Arabian Nights, it follows Persian barber Shibli Bagarag and enchantress Noorna on a quest to shave the tyrant Shagpat, whose magical hair holds an entire city captive. Their journey features talking hawks, genies, magic swords, and enchanted palaces in this humorous oriental romance filled with stories within stories and poetic interludes.
George Meredith
The Shaving of Shagpat; an Arabian entertainment — Volume 1
"The Shaving of Shagpat; an Arabian entertainment — Volume 1" by George Meredith is a fantasy novel published in 1856. Written in the style of the Arabian Nights, this humorous oriental romance follows Shibli Bagarag, a Persian barber, and Noorna, an enchantress, on their quest to shave the tyrant Shagpat, whose magical hair enslaves an entire city. Their journey involves magic swords, talking hawks, genies, and enchanted palaces in this allegorical tale of adventure and liberation.
Oliver Optic
Asiatic Breezes; Or, Students on The Wing
"Asiatic Breezes; Or, Students on The Wing" by Oliver Optic is a fictional adventure story written in the late 19th century. The narrative follows a group of young navigators led by Louis Belgrave as they embark on a maritime adventure, starting from Alexandria, Egypt, facing various challenges and threats along the way. The primary characters include Captain Scott, his shipmates, and Louis Belgrave, who is central to the unfolding plot of danger and excitement at sea. The opening of the story sets the stage for the group's journey as they set sail on the small steam-yacht Maud, part of a larger expedition on the Guardian-Mother. Their mission is fraught with the threat of a pirate, Captain Mazagan, who has been stalking them. Early interactions among the young crew reveal their camaraderie, courage, and rising tensions regarding their safety, particularly Louis's determination to face danger rather than be coddled. The narrative introduces their plans to evade the pirate while engaging in educational pursuits, setting a tone of both adventure and growth.
George Meredith
The Shaving of Shagpat; an Arabian entertainment — Volume 4
"The Shaving of Shagpat; an Arabian entertainment — Volume 4" by George Meredith is a fantasy novel published in 1856. Written in the style of the Arabian Nights, this humorous oriental romance follows Shibli Bagarag, a Persian barber, and Noorna, an enchantress, on their quest to shave the tyrant Shagpat, whose magical hair enslaves an entire city. Their journey involves magic swords, talking hawks, genies, and enchanted palaces. Praised by George Eliot as a work of genius, this allegorical tale weaves multiple stories within stories.
William Beckford
Vathek
"Vathek" by William Beckford is a Gothic novel composed in French beginning in 1782 and first published in English in 1786. The story follows Vathek, a tyrannical caliph consumed by an insatiable thirst for forbidden knowledge. When a mysterious stranger offers him access to the legendary Palace of Underground Fire and its supernatural powers, Vathek enters a dark pact that demands terrible sacrifices. His journey toward damnation leads him through seduction, betrayal, and increasingly monstrous acts, as warnings from heaven go unheeded by his relentless pride.
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