Book description
Origins, by the world-renowned writer Amin Maalouf, is a sprawling, hemisphere-spanning intergenerational saga.
Set during the last quarter of the nineteenth century and the first quarter of the twentieth, in the mountains of Lebanon and in Havana, Cuba, Origins recounts the family history of the generation of Maalouf's paternal grandfather,âŚ
Why read it?
2 authors picked Origins as one of their favorite books. Why do they recommend it?
I read Maalouf's book many years ago and it remains one of the best books I have ever read about identity. It helps that he is a gifted writer and that Maalouf's story is so compelling.
From Steven's list on understanding the Middle East.
The story of Maaloufâs paternal grandfather Boutrous exists in almost every family in the Levant. The book tackles themes of identity, belonging and displacement that resonate across generations and up to the present day. The beautiful narrative and intergenerational saga illuminate the experiences that have shaped the Middle East and its people during the waning years of the Ottoman Empire, the onset of Western colonialism and creation of new nation states.
From Sam's list on people of the Levant region.
If you love Origins...
The Arab Bureau
During the First World War, an extraordinary intelligence unit operated from Cairo's Savoy Hotel, combining archaeologists, academics, and soldiers to revolutionize British intelligence in the Middle East. Overshadowed by Lawrence of Arabia, the Arab Bureau's significance has remained hidden ever since.
This study uncovers the Bureau's story through newly discoveredâŚ
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