An Englishman in Riyadh - Softcover

Urch, David

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0956071651 ISBN 13: 9780956071651

Publisher: University of Buckingham Press, 2010

Synopsis

Is Riyadh really the capital of Saudi Arabia, Daddy?'

An Englishman in Riyadh, David Urchs account of his years in Saudi Arabia, belongs to a long-standing 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 Lawrences 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; above all they reveal a sheer delight in story telling. Thus David Urchs book is really belongs to two traditions rather than just one - the other is that of the Arabian Nights. Davids 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.

About this title

About the Author

David Urch was born in 1931 and was educated at Eastbourne College from where he won an open Exhibition in History to Worcester College Oxford where he read History and Theology. On coming down he taught in private schools for several years before fulfilling his childhood ambition and going to Riyadh, where he worked in education for almost twenty years, becoming Inspector General of the English Language for the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and Advisor in Education. In Riyadh he also worked for the Ministry of Information helping to launch the English Service of Radio Riyadh as the first newsreader. For many years he wrote, edited and produced two or three programmes a week for that service.On returning to England for family reasons, he worked with 'maladjusted' children, and did voluntary work with mentally handicapped adults. In 1988 he joined Bury Lawn School in Milton Keynes, where he still teaches Latin and Greek.His first book, published by the University of Buckingham Press, was 'Crescent and Delta; the Bangladesh Story.' This has already won a television award and David is the 2009 Channel S 'Friend of Bangladesh.' All proceeds from both books contribute to the Buckingham Bangladesh Scholarship.

About this edition

• Publisher: University of Buckingham Press
• Publication date: 2010
• ISBN 10: 0956071651
• ISBN 13: 9780956071651
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 323