Synopses & Reviews
How did Syriaandrsquo;s revolution reach this its current boiling point? And whatandrsquo;s next? This updated edition of
My House in Damascusand#160;offers an insiderandrsquo;s view on these questions and the darker recesses of Syriaandrsquo;s history, politics, and society.
Diana Darke, a fluent Arabic speaker who moved to Damascus in 2004 after decades of regular visits, details how the Assad regime, and its relationship to the people, differs from the regimes in Egypt, Tunisia, and Libyaandmdash;and why it was thus always less likely to collapse quickly, even in the face of widespread unrest and violence. Through the authorandrsquo;s firsthand experiences of buying and restoring a house in the old city of Damascus, which she later offered as a sanctuary to friends, Darke presents a clear picture of the realities of life on the ground and what hope there is for Syriaandrsquo;s future. Including additional material on topics like the advance of the Islamic State, as well as a new epilogue describing the current turmoil surrounding her house and the refugees she tried to help, this edition of My House in Damascus powerfully documents the human cost of the ongoing civil war.
Review
and#8220;[W]ritten with the pace of a novel and the colour of the best travel writing. . . . [T]he book offers much more than a personal memoir: it is an eclectic but learned encyclopedia of Syrian history, of the Arabs and their language and traditions, of Islamic art and architecture, and more.and#8221;
Review
and#8220;[My House in Damascus] glows with . . . an understanding of and affection for the peoples of Syria.and#8221;
Review
and#8220;Written with honesty, wit and affection.and#8221;
Review
and#8220;Darkeand#8217;s powerful, moving new book . . . elegantly contrasts a real estate dream with Syriaand#8217;s ongoing violent reality. . . . Her sensitive, knowing story captures a rare view of Syria and the stakes of the conflict from an up-close observer deeply versed in its culture.and#8221;
Synopsis
Based on firsthand reporting from Syria and throughout the Middle East, Inside Syriaunravels the complex dynamics underlying the Syrian Civil War. Through vivid, on-the-ground accounts and interviews with rebel leaders, regime supporters, and Syrian president Bashar al-Assad himself, veteran journalist Reese Erlichgives the reader a better understanding of this momentous power struggle and why it matters.
Through his many contacts inside Syria, the author reveals who is supporting Assad and why; he describes the agendas of the rebel factions; and he depicts in stark terms the dire plight of many ordinary Syrian people caught in the cross-fire. The book also provides insights into the role of the Kurds, the continuing influence of Iran, and the policies of American leaders who seem interested only in protecting US regional interests.
Disturbing and enlightening at once, this timely book shows you not only what is happening inside Syria but why it is so important for the Middle East, the US, and the world."
Synopsis
Reese Erlich is an award-winning journalist and the author of four books on foreign policy, most recently Conversations with Terrorists: Middle East Leaders on Politics, Violence and Empire. In 2012, the Society of Professional Journalists, Northern California, gave Erlich its best explanatory journalism award for his radio documentary entitled “Inside the Syrian Revolution.” In 2006 Erlich shared a prestigious Peabody award. Currently, he works as a fulltime, freelance journalist and holds the position of special correspondent with GlobalPost. He also reports regularly for National Public Radio, Radio Deutsche Welle, the Canadian Broadcast Corporation, and CBS Radio News. His articles on the Middle East have appeared in the Christian Science Monitor, GlobalPost, Atlantic Online, and Vanity Fair Online.
Synopsis
The ongoing conflict in Syria has made clear just how limited the general knowledge of Syrian society and history is in the West. For those watching the headlines and wondering what led the nation to this point, and what might come next, this book is a perfect place to start developing a deeper understanding.
Based on decades of living and working in Syria, My House in Damascus offers an inside view of Syriaand#8217;s cultural and complex religious and ethnic communities. Diana Darke, a fluent Arabic speaker who moved to Damascus in 2004 after decades of regular visits, details the ways that the Assad regime, and its relationship to the people, differs from the regimes in Egypt, Tunisia, and Libyaand#151;and why it was thus always less likely to collapse quickly, even in the face of widespread unrest and violence. Through the authorand#8217;s firsthand experiences of buying and restoring a house in the old city of Damascus, which she later offered as a sanctuary to friends, Darke presents a clear picture of the realities of life on the ground and what hope there is for Syriaand#8217;s future.
About the Author
Reese Erlich (Oakland, CA) is an award-winning journalist and the author of four books on foreign policy. A full-time freelance journalist and special correspondent, he recently reported for both CBS Radio and
GlobalPost from the Kurdish Region of Iraq, interviewing Yazidis and Kurdish peshmerga and analyzing the US bombing campaign. Erlich also reports regularly for National Public Radio and Radio Deutsche Welle. His articles on the Middle East have appeared in the
Christian Science Monitor,
Atlantic Online, and
Vanity Fair Online. In 2012, the Society of Professional Journalists, Northern California, gave Erlich an Explanatory Journalism Award for his radio documentary titled “Inside the Syrian Uprising.” In 2006 he shared a prestigious Peabody Award. For more information visit www.ReeseErlich.com.
Table of Contents
Preface
1. Worlds of Conflict and Harmony
2. Unescorted
3. Escorted
4. Nobodyandrsquo;s Poodle
5. Into the Unknown
6. The Dead Auntie
7. Insurance Against Fate?
8. Revelations
9. Friends and Brides
10. The Donkey Between Two Carrots
11. The Law and Educational Corruption
12. Completion and the Caretaker
13. No Return
14. Monasteries and Desperation
15. Thugs and Tamerlane
16. The Triumph of Asabiyya
17. Future Imperfect and Perfect
and#160;
Acknowledgements
Glossary
Cast of Characters
A Note on the Choice of Clarity