Arabia is a land of cardamom-flavoured coffee and camel trains, frankincense and fanatics, pirates and pearl fishers, a land where slights are sometimes forgiven but never forgotten and where friendships last forever.

Letters from Arabia explores these subjects and more by taking one word from each of the twenty-eight letters of the Arabic alphabet as a chapter heading. Each chapter weaves its way through the colourful and complex history of Arabia, illustrating the origins of words used in everyday conversation and providing a Western perspective with the author's account of periods of his life and career spent on Arabian soil.

Letters from Arabia is a welcome addition to anyone with even a passing interest in the Middle East and an invaluable addition to any traveller's library.