Fact and Fiction in the Middle Eastern Novels of Leon Uris
1985; Taylor & Francis; Volume: 14; Issue: 3 Linguagem: Inglês
10.2307/2536952
ISSN1533-8614
Autores Tópico(s)Islamic Studies and History
ResumoThe American author Leon Uris has published two novels set in the Middle East, Exodus and, more recently, The Haj. They are major in the sense that both quickly became international bestsellers. Neither book is presented as straight-out work of In preface to both, Uris writes: of the events in Exodus [and The Haj] are matter of history and public record. Many of the scenes were created around historical incidents and used as backdrop for the purpose of fiction. Uris claims that years of travel and research went into The Haj, in which his publishers say he explores the conflict between the emergent state of Israel and the frightening, mysterious world of Islam with its insatiable drives. According to Uris himself, The Haj is a very well documented and very truthful book also.1 His sources included PLO man and of the leading Arabists in the world, with whose help really felt that I was able to solve some of the riddles of the Arab mind although it was helluva lot of work.2 There are many similarities between Exodus and The Haj, not just in the historical and political setting but in the development of characters. Both novels have good Arab village set near Zionist settlement, Abu Yesha in Exodus and Tabah in The Haj. The Mukhtars of both villages-Kammal (sic) in Exodus and Haj Ibrahim in The Haj-develop close and dependent relationships with dominant figures in the settlements, Barak ben Canaan (Exodus) and Gideon Asch (The Haj). Both mukhtars are depicted by Uris as moderates who realize that their real enemies are other Arabs and their
Referência(s)