Overview

An Oxford-educated scholar of the Middle East and former foreign correspondent for ""The Wall Street Journal"", Hugh Pope lived and worked in two dozen countries throughout the region. Following in the footsteps of Sir Richard Burton and Lawrence of Arabia, Hugh Pope's explorations of the people, politics, religion, and culture of Islamic nations shows there is no such thing as a monolithic 'Muslim World'. His probing and often perilous journeys - at one point he is forced to quote Koranic verse to argue against his being murdered by a top al-Qaeda leader - provide an eye-opening look at diverse societies often misportrayed by superficial reporting and 'why they hate us' politics. With U.S. foreign policy under Obama aiming to more constructively engage with Muslim nations, this lyrical and often poetic voyage is one of the truly important books of our times.

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9780312383138

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Reviews

Pope shares deeply engaged dispatches from the Middle East hot spots he visited during his long career. The author is a charming writer [and] offers intimate glimpses inside the Arab world.... An enjoyable chronicle of a rich life's work. -- Kirkus Reviews Pope, formerly the Middle East correspondent for the Wall Street Journal, here recounts a career's worth of regional reportage that began in the early 1980s, an arc that follows his pursuit of interesting stories and interviews, as with an Islamic militant who debates with Pope about whether to kill him. Danger is often present in Pope's stories, and his daring stories reflect his determination to break out from templates in which Middle East news, in his view, is presented in America. -- Booklist Pleasantly self-deprecating, he acknowledges that he is not always right. But he usually is. -- The Economist Hugh Pope goes behind the headlines to probe the world's most volatile and misunderstood region. Balanced, deeply informed,

“Pope shares deeply engaged dispatches from the Middle East hot spots he visited during his long career. The author is a charming writer [and] offers intimate glimpses inside the Arab world.... An enjoyable chronicle of a rich life's work.”— Kirkus Reviews  “Pope, formerly the Middle East correspondent for the Wall Street Journal, here recounts a career’s worth of regional reportage that began in the early 1980s, an arc that follows his pursuit of interesting stories and interviews, as with an Islamic militant who debates with Pope about whether to kill him. Danger is often present in Pope’s stories, and his daring stories reflect his determination to break out from templates in which Middle East news, in his view, is presented in America.”— Booklist  “Pleasantly self-deprecating, he acknowledges that he is not always right. But he usually is.”— The Economist  “Hugh Pope goes behind the headline

Pope shares deeply engaged dispatches from the Middle East hot spots he visited during his long career. The author is a charming writer [and] offers intimate glimpses inside the Arab world.... An enjoyable chronicle of a rich life's work. -- Kirkus Reviews Pope, formerly the Middle East correspondent for the Wall Street Journal, here recounts a career's worth of regional reportage that began in the early 1980s, an arc that follows his pursuit of interesting stories and interviews, as with an Islamic militant who debates with Pope about whether to kill him. Danger is often present in Pope's stories, and his daring stories reflect his determination to break out from templates in which Middle East news, in his view, is presented in America. -- Booklist Pleasantly self-deprecating, he acknowledges that he is not always right. But he usually is. -- The Economist Hugh Pope goes behind the headlines to probe the world's most volatile and misunderstood region. Balanced, deeply informed, and darkly fun, Dining with al-Qaeda is a must-read for Middle East junkies. --Tony Horwitz, bestselling author of A Voyage Long and Strange and Baghdad Without a Map A very good book, and one that raises essential questions about journalism and our understanding of the world. --Mariane Pearl, author of A Mighty Heart: The Brave Life and Death of My Husband, Danny Pearl Hugh Pope's deftly told account of 30 years in the Middle East recounts the region's troubles with bracing honesty and its charms with genuine affection. Often a page-turner, populated by a colorful cast of deeply human characters, Dining with al-Qaeda goes beyond the day's headlines to offer a nuanced and compelling portrait of the region. Pope brims with remarkably brave and crucial insight into the Western media's coverage of the Middle East. --Azadeh Moaveni, author of Lipstick Jihad and Honeymoon in Tehran The tales of [Pope's] wanderings from Sudan and Egypt to Pakistan are not only fascinat

"“Pope shares deeply engaged dispatches from the Middle East hot spots he visited during his long career. The author is a charming writer [and] offers intimate glimpses inside the Arab world.... An enjoyable chronicle of a rich life's work.”—""Kirkus Reviews"" “Pope, formerly the Middle East correspondent for the Wall Street Journal, here recounts a career’s worth of regional reportage that began in the early 1980s, an arc that follows his pursuit of interesting stories and interviews, as with an Islamic militant who debates with Pope about whether to kill him. Danger is often present in Pope’s stories, and his daring stories reflect his determination to break out from templates in which Middle East news, in his view, is presented in America.”—""Booklist"" “Pleasantly self-deprecating, he acknowledges that he is not always right. But he usually is.”—""The Economist"" “Hugh Pope goes behind the headline ""Pope shares deeply engaged dispatches from the Middle East hot spots he visited during his long career. The author is a charming writer [and] offers intimate glimpses inside the Arab world.... An enjoyable chronicle of a rich life's work.""--""Kirkus Reviews"" ""Pope, formerly the Middle East correspondent for the Wall Street Journal, here recounts a career's worth of regional reportage that began in the early 1980s, an arc that follows his pursuit of interesting stories and interviews, as with an Islamic militant who debates with Pope about whether to kill him. Danger is often present in Pope's stories, and his daring stories reflect his determination to break out from templates in which Middle East news, in his view, is presented in America.""--""Booklist"" ""Pleasantly self-deprecating, he acknowledges that he is not always right. But he usually is.""--""The Economist"" ""Hugh Pope goes behind the headlines to probe the world's most volatile and misunderstood region. Balanced, deeply informed, and darkly fun, ""Dining with al-Qaeda"" is a must-read for Middle East junkies."" --Tony Horwitz, bestselling author of ""A Voyage Long and Strange ""and"" Baghdad Without a Map""""A very good book, and one that raises essential questions about journalism and our understanding of the world."" --Mariane Pearl, author of ""A Mighty Heart: The Brave Life and Death of My Husband, Danny Pearl""""Hugh Pope's deftly told account of 30 years in the Middle East recounts the region's troubles with bracing honesty and its charms with genuine affection. Often a page-turner, populated by a colorful cast of deeply human characters, ""Dining with al-Qaeda"" goes beyond the day's headlines to offer a nuanced and compelling portrait of the region. Pope brims with remarkably brave and crucial insight into the Western media's coverage of the Middle East.""--Azadeh Moaveni, author of ""Lipstick Jihad"" and ""Honeymoon in Tehran"" ""The tales of [Pope's] wanderings from Sudan and Egypt to Pakistan are not only fascinat"

Author Information

HUGH POPE is currently based in Istanbul with the International Crisis Group. Previously he was a staff correspondent for ""The Wall Street Journal ""and has been engaged in the broader Middle East for three decades. He has lectured widely on the Turkic world, including at the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, D.C. Pope is the author of ""Sons of the Conquerors,"" one of ""The Economist""'s Best Books of the Year, and ""Turkey Unveiled,"" a ""New York Times ""Notable Book.

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