Washington’s Middle East Military Presence Is Uniquely Counterproductive

The Middle East as a geopolitical region is generally defined as the countries on the Arabian Peninsula, as well as countries in northern Africa and parts of west Asia. As a center point for the convergence of Africa, Asia, and Europe and the cradle of some of the earliest recorded civilizations, the region has a long history upon which authors of historical fiction might draw. From the first humans to settle in the Middle East, to the origination of the Abrahamic religions, to colonial mandates and modern political, social, and religious divides, the region offers readers a myriad of books and authors to enjoy.

In the list below, you’ll find stories that span from ancient Egypt to the early 2010s. Learn about the impact of the Iranian revolution through the eyes of an arrested man and his family, trace the journey of a twelfth-century mapmaker, and witness the bombing of Jaffa through the eyes of a young man. See the markets and rug weavers of seventeenth-century Persia, get a new perspective on Cleopatra, and trace the history of Israel from World War I to the 1970s through a family saga novel. Whichever book you choose, you’ll enjoy a captivating story and a journey to the past.

Mother of Strangers by Suad Amiry

Set in Jaffa from 1947 to 1951, this novel follows 15-year-old Subhi and 13-year-old Shams, the girl Subhi hopes to one day marry. When the book opens, Jaffa is a bustling, port city, known for its orange groves and coastline along the Mediterranean, but the 1947 UN Partition Plan for Palestine divides the city, and soon Jaffa is hollowed out by bombs and families are displaced. Through Subhi’s eyes, we see the losses of his and Shams’ families and their struggle to survive and establish a new sense of home in a city that now looks unrecognizable to its inhabitants.

The Septembers of Shiraz by Dalia Sofer

Set during and after the Iranian Revolution, this book begins when rare gem dealer Isaac Amin is arrested on suspicion of being a spy. As Isaac navigates the terror of prison, his family must try and keep their life together while desperately trying to find him and navigate a society where they are no longer able to trust those around them. Through one family’s story, readers see the history of the Iranian revolution and its long-term impacts within Iran and within the Iranian diaspora.

Esau by Meir Shalev

Beginning in World War I in the British Mandate in Palestine, Esau follows the Levy family across generations and up to the mid-1970s. Beginning with parents Abraham and Sarah, the family’s story is told by Esau, who left for America when his brother, Jacob, married Leah, whom Esau had hoped would choose him. When Esau returns because Abraham is dying, he begins recounting the story of his and Jacob’s childhood, as well as the lives of their parents. Esau is both a reimagining of the Biblical story of sibling rivalry and inheritance and a sweeping history and family story.

The Map of Salt and Stars by Zeyn Joukhadar

Moving between the past and recent days, The Map of Salt and Stars weaves together twelfth and twenty-first century Syria. When Nour’s father dies, her mother moves her and her sisters from New York City to Syria to be closer to family. To keep her father’s memory alive, Nour recounts one of their favorite stories to share, the tale of Rawiya, a twelfth-century girl who disguised herself as a boy in order to work as a mapmaker. But in the present, Nour’s home is increasingly under threat from shelling, and when their home is hit, her family must follow in the footsteps of Rawiya as they undertake their own, lengthy journey.

The Blood of Flowers by Anita Amirrezvani

In seventeenth-century Isfahan, Persia, a young woman’s future is shattered when her father dies without leaving her with a dowry. With a lack of marriage prospects, she must move in with her uncle, a rug designer for the Shah’s court, and work in his household as a servant. Told with an emotional, first-person narrative style, The Blood of Flowers follows her growth as a gifted rug maker and the choices she must make in order to achieve autonomy in her life.

Cleopatra by Saara El-Arifi

When reading about Egyptian history, Cleopatra’s name is often one of the first to come up, but her story is often filtered through others’ perspectives and observations. In her new novel Cleopatra, El-Arifi offers a fictionalized account of Cleopatra’s life, with a focus on the myths and falsehoods that were cultivated about her by those looking to downplay her power. Readers who have enjoyed mythical retellings centered around women will enjoy this book for the complexity it adds to Cleopatra’s existing story.

If you’re a fan of historical fiction, the Book Riot archives have plenty of suggestions once you’re finished with the books above! Consider these historical fiction books with dual timelines or these stories set in the Pacific Islands. And be sure to check out this list of the best historical fiction books of the century (so far).