Mirror To Damascus by Colin Thubron

'One of the oldest, most mysterious and fascinating cities in the world has found a worthy biographer: a rare event and one not to be missed' Sunday Times

Described by the author as simply 'a work of love', Mirror to Damascus provides an enthralling and fascinating history of Damascus from the Amorites of the Bible to the revolution of 1966, as well a being a charming and witty personal record of a city well-loved.

In explaining how modern Damascus is rooted in immemoriable layers of culture and tradition, Colin Thubron explores the historical, artistic, social and religious inheritance of the Damascenes in an amusing and perceptive manner, whilst interspersing the narrative with innumerable anecdotes about travellers of bygone days.

Mirror to Damascus is a unique portrait of a city now obscured by recent upheavals, by one of the most indefatigable and popular of travel writers.

Colin Thubron

Reviews

“ Colin Thubron writes in a classical style of grave beauty, with an intense feeling for place and people ”

New York Times

“ From the earliest legend to the latest coup, Mirror to Damascus reflects every discoverable facet of the city... a quite exceptional travel writer ”

Daily Telegraph

“ One of the great merits of Mr Thubron's admirable book is that he balances this tribute to a place of which he is clearly very fond with the harsh facts of history... he was always moved by the best motives - curiosity and affection ”

The Times

“ Mr Thubron is a man of singular enterprise, and a writer of remarkable distinction. Surely Damascus was never sacked to better purpose ”

Observer

“ One of the oldest, most mysterious and fascinating cities in the world has found a worthy biographer: a rare event and one not to be missed ”

Sunday Times

EBook

9781446483657

June 8, 2011

Vintage Digital

368 pages
Online retailers
Paperback

9780099532293

February 2, 2009

Vintage

240 pages

RRP $22.99
Online retailers
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