3 Review(s)

An Englishman in Riyadh, David Urch's account of his years in Saudi Arabia belongs to a longstanding and important tradition - works by English authors describing their encounters with Islamic societies. They range from the letters of Lady Mary Wortley Montagu to T E Lawrence's Seven Pillars of Wisdom and the works of Freya Stark. Consciously or unconsciously, the best examples - of which An Englishman in Riydah is undoubtedly one - reflect aspects of Islamic and Arabian culture and above all reveal a sheer delight in storytelling. David's stories are wonderfully told: the sense of timing, the pace, the humour, sometimes the pathos, the impending disaster, the unexpected twist and - usually - the happy ending. All of the essential ingredients are there. Something of Arabia has surely rubbed off on David.