Hardcover book. 245 pages. Withdrawn library book. Book in very good condition.
"This intense, evocative account . . . has acquired its near-mythical status by stealth and word of mouth." - from the introduction by Lucretia Stewart
Cleopatra's Wedding Present is the rare book that captivated its reader from the first page. Like the best travel books, Robert Tewdwr Moss's memoir of his travels through Syria resonates on many levels: as a profoundly telling vivisection of Middle Eastern society, a chilling history of ethnic crimes, a picaresque adventure story, a purely entertaining travelogue, an a poignant romance.
Tewdwr Moss, a brilliant writer who was murdered in London the day after he finished this book, left this lyrical gem as his legacy. He adeptly captures an essence of the Middle East that is foreign to most of us, but which becomes real with his astute observations of the region's culture and explosive politics. He conveys what so many westerners find both fascinating and frightening in the Middle East, making no attempt to mask circumstances that are appalling and dangerous while also exotic, beautiful, and sometimes very funny.
Mesopotamia, now present-day Syria, was part of Mark Anthony's love gift to Cleopatra. Then and now, it is a land of mystery and love.
Robert Tewdwr Moss (1961 - 1996) was a journalist of astonishing versatility. He first made his mark as Diary Editor of the books section of the London Sunday Times. He also contributed to magazines as varied as Tatler, Women's Journal, Harpers, Queen and Africa Events.
Part of Living Out
Gay an Lesbian Autobiographies
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Travel/ Middle East/ Memoir/ Gay Interest
"This is one of those rare books that pounces upon you and chivvies you into a state of proselytizing enthusiasm. It is much more than a travel book about Syria, although as such it is marvelous." - London Daily Telegraph
"A work with the potential to become a cult classic." - Andrew Lycett, Observer
"This is not a dutiful . . . examination of a country, but it is a well-informed guide to a larger interior landscape." - James Owen, Literary Review
"A gripping, hard-edged, and highly entertaining travelogue, borne up by a journalist's eye for stories and a traveller's love of the random experience." - Independent on Sunday
