Readinggroup

This month’s choice. By John Koski

Joan Seabrook, a would-be archaeologist, has had a fascination with the Arabian desert since her childhood, when her father regularly read to her from One Thousand and One Nights. Now, at the age of 26, she finally hopes to see it for herself, when she and her fiancé Rory travel to the Gulf state of Oman to stay with a diplomat friend in the ancient capital city of Muscat.

It turns out to be the trip of a lifetime, but not for the reasons she had imagined. It is 1958 and the country is in the middle of an armed insurrection, which prevents Joan from travelling to the interior. However, she seeks out local resident Maude Vickery, a legendary explorer in her day and one of Joan’s great heroines. Now old, frail and prickly, she is nevertheless still a force to be reckoned with and her friendship with Joan has dramatic consequences, putting lives and relationships at risk – including their own. This is an expansive piece of storytelling, full of adventure, betrayal, shocking secrets and passion. ‘The breeze fluttered Joan’s robes and veil and some air crept underneath to cool her. She took a deep breath and when she exhaled it was with a laugh, an incredulous laugh. She had done it – she had been where few Westerners ever had, against all the rules, in a disguise, and come out again without mishap. It may have been illegal, but Joan decided that it being illegal didn’t make it wrong. She felt euphoric, invincible; she felt she could stretch out her arms and soar over the city.’ Katherine Webb was inspired to write the character of Maude Vickery by the life of Gertrude Bell, a pioneer female explorer at the turn of the last century – and close friend of Lawrence of Arabia – whose remarkable achievements are all but forgotten today. Read more about the background to the novel in Katherine’s exclusive piece at youreadinggroup.co.uk, where you will also find suggested topics for your own book club discussion.