Behind the Veil of Vice: The Business and Culture of Sex in the Middle East - Hardcover

Bradley, John R.

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 023062054X ISBN 13: 9780230620544

Publisher: St. Martin's Press, 2010

Synopsis

The Middle East has long been something of a mystery to Westerners, and in particular, the sexual mores of the region continue to fascinate. Arabs are often described as being in a state of Islam-induced sexual anxiety and young Muslims’ frustrations are said to be exacerbated by increasing exposure to the licentiousness of the West. Here, Middle East expert John R. Bradley sets out to uncover the truth about sex in countries like Egypt, Syria, Morocco and Yemen.  Among many startling revelations, Bradley reports on how "temporary" Islamic marriages allow for illicit sex in the theocracies of Iran and Saudi Arabia; "child brides" that are sold off to older Arab men according to ancient tribal traditions; the hypocrisy that undermines publicized crackdowns on the thriving sex industry in the Persian Gulf; and how, despite widespread denial, homosexuality is still deeply ingrained in the region's social fabric. Richly detailed and nuanced, Behind the Ve

About this title

About the Author:

John R. Bradley was born in England in 1970. He was educated at University College London, Dartmouth College, and Exeter College, Oxford. He has written for the Washington Quarterly, the New Republic, the Economist, Newsweek, Prospect, the London Telegraph, Salon, and the London Sunday Times. Fluent in Egyptian Arabic, he is the author of Saudi Arabia Exposed: Inside a Kingdom in Crisis (2005), a Foreign Affairs bestseller, and the critically acclaimed Inside Egypt: The Land of the Pharaohs on the Brink of a Revolution (2008).

Review:

“Drawing on extensive research as well as the author's own substantial firsthand knowledge of the region, the book offers an essential corrective to the fantasies and misinformation about Middle Eastern cultures.” ―Publishers Weekly

“Bradley... crushes the popular perception of the Middle East as erotically stifled.... This fascinating and comprehensive book guides readers through the seedy underbelly of the Middle East.” ―Salon.com

“Bradley finds both sleazy secrets and what he... calls higher hypocrisies in this revelatory and thought-provoking book.” ―The Scotsman (U.K.)

“After ten years writing and traveling through the Middle East, John R. Bradley decided to tackle the subject that everyone talks about without saying much... [He] reveals the many different ways countries across the region talk about and regulate sex.” ―Zócalo Public Square

“Essential reading for anyone interested in modern Egypt and the looming dramas of the Arab world.” ―United Press International on Inside Egypt

“In this highly readable and thoughtful volume, Bradley provides a devastating critique of Egypt's current dictatorial government.” ―Library Journal on Inside Egypt

“Compelling... Inside Egypt depicts a hopelessly dysfunctional country where poverty, torture, and corruption are ubiquitous.” ―New Statesman (UK) on Inside Egypt

“John R. Bradley is a writer looking for the truth in Arab countries ruled by dictators. His writing is brave and essential to our understanding of the reality behind the official, artificial image of our societies.” ―Alaa Al Aswany, Egyptian author of the international bestselling novels The Yacoubian Building and Chicago, on Inside Egypt

“A highly informed, temperate, and understanding account of a country... that is an enigma.” ―The New York Times on Saudi Arabia Exposed

“Brings to life the tensions between rulers and ruled, offering poignant evidence of widespread disillusionment with the Saudi royal family.” ―Foreign Affairs on Saudi Arabia Exposed

“A thoughtful, incisive portrait of a fractured nation. . . [a] remarkable volume.” ―Newsweek on Saudi Arabia Exposed

“[Bradley] uses a graceful journalist's pen to write with scholarly authority... shows a sensitivity rare for a Westerner, reaching directly to the society's core.” ―The Nation on Saudi Arabia Exposed

About this edition

• Publisher: St. Martin's Press
• Publication date: 2010
• ISBN 10: 023062054X
• ISBN 13: 9780230620544
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 288