Synopses & Reviews
The Middle East has long been something of a mystery to Westerners, and in particular, the sexual mores of the region continue to fascinate. Arabs are often described as being in a state of Islam-induced sexual anxiety and young Muslims frustrations are said to be exacerbated by increasing exposure to the licentiousness of the West. Here, Middle East expert John R. Bradley sets out to uncover the truth about sex in countries like Egypt, Syria, Morocco and Yemen. Among many startling revelations, Bradley reports on how "temporary" Islamic marriages allow for illicit sex in the theocracies of Iran and Saudi Arabia; "child brides" that are sold off to older Arab men according to ancient tribal traditions; the hypocrisy that undermines publicized crackdowns on the thriving sex industry in the Persian Gulf; and how, despite widespread denial, homosexuality is still deeply ingrained in the region's social fabric.
Richly detailed and nuanced, Behind the Veil of Vice sheds light on a taboo subject and unravels widely held myths about the region. In the process, Bradley also delivers an important message about our own societys contradictions.
Review
Praise for Inside Egypt:
“Terrifically well told and extremely sobering.” -- Kirkus
“In this highly readable and thoughtful volume, Bradley provides a devastating critique of Egypts current dictatorial government.” – Library Journal
“Inside Egypt is an original, angry, brilliant, subtle, and highly readable expose of contemporary Egyptian politics and society."--Peter Bergen, author of Holy War Inc. and The Osama bin Laden I Know
"Egypt is the next domino to fall and, as they say, so goes Egypt so goes the Middle East. John R. Bradley hits the nail on the head, explaining why a pillar of American dominance in that part of the world is about to crumble." --Robert Baer, former Middle East-based CIA operative, author of See No Evil and Sleeping with the Devil
Praise for Saudi Arabia Exposed:
"A highly informed, temperate, and understanding account of a country that. . . is an enigma."--The New York Times
"Contributes substantially to the debate."--Los Angeles Times
"[A] thoughtful, incisive portrait of a fractured nation….a remarkable volume."Newsweek
"[Bradley] uses a graceful journalist's pen to write with scholarly authority...shows a sensitivity rare for a Westerner, reaching directly to the society's core."--The Nation Jessica Wang - Paul Corner, Professor of European History, University of Siena - Peter Bergen - Gilles Kepel - John Gray - Michael Stern - Edmund Carlevale - Martin Sieff - Paul Corner, Professor of European History, University of Siena - Jessica Wang - Jessica Wang - Jessica Wang - Peter Bergen - Gilles Kepel - John Gray - Peter Bergen - Gilles Kepel - John Gray - Peter Bergen - Gilles Kepel - John Gray - Peter Bergen - Gilles Kepel - John Gray - Paul Corner, Professor of European History, University of Siena - Paul Corner, Professor of European History, University of Siena - New Statesman - Jihad: The Trail of Political Islam - Holy War, Inc. - New Statesman - Jihad: The Trail of Political Islam - Holy War, Inc. - New Statesman - Jihad: The Trail of Political Islam - Holy War, Inc. - New Statesman - Jihad: The Trail of Political Islam - Holy War, Inc. - American Historical Review - American Historical Review - American Historical Review - Publishers Weekly - The Washington Times - The Boston Globe - The American Lawyer - New Statesman - Jihad: The Trail of Political Islam - Holy War, Inc. - American Historical Review
Review
"Recommend... for its accessibility, wealth of detailed content, and its potential appeal for scholars working in the fields of sex work and Middle East studies.... Bradley succeeds in his aim to effectively uncover the mysteries surrounding the business and culture of sex in the Middle East. He presents a very nuanced account of the realities of prostitution in various Middle Eastern countries, supplemented statistically and anecdotally. Bradley identifies a range of existent liberal cultural identities and attitudes towards sex in the countries he has visited, accompanied by an underground culture of sex that is often not as shrouded in mystery as western media so commonly depicts."--LSE Review of Books
"Drawing on extensive research as well as the author's own substantial firsthand knowledge of the region, the book offers an essential corrective to the fantasies and misinformation about Middle Eastern cultures." —Publishers Weekly
Praise for Inside Egypt:
“Essential reading for anyone interested in modern Egypt and the looming dramas of the Arab world.”—United Press International
“In this highly readable and thoughtful volume, Bradley provides a devastating critique of Egypts current dictatorial government.”—Library Journal
“Compelling… Inside Egypt depicts a hopelessly dysfunctional country where poverty, torture, and corruption are ubiquitous.”—New Statesman (UK)
“John R. Bradley is a writer looking for the truth in Arab countries ruled by dictators. His writing is brave and essential to our understanding of the reality behind the official, artificial image of our societies.”—Alaa Al Aswany, Egyptian author of the international bestselling novels The Yacoubian Building and Chicago
Praise for Saudi Arabia Exposed:
“A highly informed, temperate, and understanding account of a country… that is an enigma.”—The New York Times
“Brings to life the tensions between rulers and ruled, offering poignant evidence of widespread disillusionment with the Saudi royal family.”—Foreign Affairs
“A thoughtful, incisive portrait of a fractured nation. . . [a] remarkable volume.”—Newsweek
“[Bradley] uses a graceful journalists pen to write with scholarly authority... shows a sensitivity rare for a Westerner, reaching directly to the societys core.”—The Nation
Review
"Recommend... for its accessibility, wealth of detailed content, and its potential appeal for scholars working in the fields of sex work and Middle East studies.... Bradley succeeds in his aim to effectively uncover the mysteries surrounding the business and culture of sex in the Middle East. He presents a very nuanced account of the realities of prostitution in various Middle Eastern countries, supplemented statistically and anecdotally. Bradley identifies a range of existent liberal cultural identities and attitudes towards sex in the countries he has visited, accompanied by an underground culture of sex that is often not as shrouded in mystery as western media so commonly depicts."--LSE Review of Books
"Drawing on extensive research as well as the author's own substantial firsthand knowledge of the region, the book offers an essential corrective to the fantasies and misinformation about Middle Eastern cultures." —Publishers Weekly
Praise for Inside Egypt:
“Essential reading for anyone interested in modern Egypt and the looming dramas of the Arab world.”—United Press International
“In this highly readable and thoughtful volume, Bradley provides a devastating critique of Egypts current dictatorial government.”—Library Journal
“Compelling… Inside Egypt depicts a hopelessly dysfunctional country where poverty, torture, and corruption are ubiquitous.”—New Statesman (UK)
“John R. Bradley is a writer looking for the truth in Arab countries ruled by dictators. His writing is brave and essential to our understanding of the reality behind the official, artificial image of our societies.”—Alaa Al Aswany, Egyptian author of the international bestselling novels The Yacoubian Building and Chicago
Praise for Saudi Arabia Exposed:
“A highly informed, temperate, and understanding account of a country… that is an enigma.”—The New York Times
“Brings to life the tensions between rulers and ruled, offering poignant evidence of widespread disillusionment with the Saudi royal family.”—Foreign Affairs
“A thoughtful, incisive portrait of a fractured nation. . . [a] remarkable volume.”—Newsweek
“[Bradley] uses a graceful journalists pen to write with scholarly authority... shows a sensitivity rare for a Westerner, reaching directly to the societys core.”—The Nation
Synopsis
A unique and provocative journey revealing a subculture that, until now, has been kept carefully hidden from the outside world.
Following Saudi Arabia Exposed and Inside Egypt, John R. Bradley sets his sights on an even more controversial topic: the business and culture of sex in the Middle East. Among many startling revelations, Behind the Veil of Vice reports on how "temporary" Islamic marriages allow for illicit sex in the theocracies of Iran and Saudi Arabia; "child brides" that are sold off to older Arab men according to ancient tribal traditions; the corruption and hypocrisy that undermine crackdowns on the thriving sex industry in the Persian Gulf; and how, despite widespread denial, homosexuality is still deeply ingrained in the region's social fabric. Richly detailed and nuanced, Behind the Veil of Vice is the first book published on the Middle East's biggest secret.
Synopsis
A riveting journey through the underbelly of the Middle East, exposing a secret world as shocking as it is widespread
About the Author
John R. Bradley was born in England in 1970. He was educated at University College London, Dartmouth College, and Exeter College, Oxford. He has written for the Washington Quarterly, the New Republic, the Economist, Newsweek, Prospect, the London Telegraph, Salon, and the London Sunday Times. Fluent in Egyptian Arabic, he is the author of Saudi Arabia Exposed: Inside a Kingdom in Crisis (2005), a Foreign Affairs bestseller, and the critically acclaimed Inside Egypt: The Land of the Pharaohs on the Brink of a Revolution (2008).