ABOUT THE BOOK
Prison Time in Sana’a
Prison Time in Sana’a tells the harrowing story of Dr Abdulkader Al-Guneid’s abduction and imprisonment in Yemen’s capital after its takeover by Houthi rebels.
A respected medical doctor from Taiz, Al-Guneid had long been an outspoken commentator on Yemeni politics, gaining a global following through social media and interviews that explained the conflict’s deep-rooted causes. His activism placed him in the crosshairs of the Houthi movement, leading to his abduction on 5 August 2015 and incarceration in an undisclosed prison in Sana’a.
For the next 300 days, he shared a cell with American hostages, Houthi fighters, Al-Qaeda militants, and civilian Yemenis caught in the chaos of war. Initially typing his memoir on a mobile phone in exile, Al-Guneid provides a deeply personal narrative that sheds light on life inside Houthi-controlled territory and Yemen’s complex civil conflict.
Prison Time in Sana’a is both a testimony of survival and an unflinching record of Yemen’s recent history.
OUR NEW TITLES
Sea of Pearls
Before the discovery of oil, the sea was the Gulf’s greatest wealth. Each summer, fleets of wooden dhows sailed out into the turquoise waters, their crews diving deep on a single breath, armed only with a nose clip, a stone weight, and a rope. They returned to the surface clutching oysters, hoping for the prize within pearls so perfect they adorned the crowns of kings and captivated the luxury markets of India and Europe.
Lorimer
In 1908, the British government quietly commissioned a vast and meticulous record of the Arabian Gulf and surrounding regions. Compiled by John Gordon Lorimer, a senior political officer in the Indian Civil Service, The Gazetteer of the Persian Gulf, Oman and Central Arabia became one of the most extraordinary works of intelligence ever produced by a colonial administration.
Julius Euting
In the winter of 1883, German epigraphist Julius Euting and French-Alsatian geographer Charles Huber departed Damascus on a perilous journey into the heart of northern Arabia. Their mission: to uncover ancient inscriptions and reveal the region’s forgotten history.
In Praise of the Artisan
Across the Islamic world, artistry is not only preserved—it continues to evolve. From the rhythmic tapping of stone carvers in Rajasthan to the delicate calligraphy of Istanbul’s masters, from Cairo’s woodworkers to the skilled embroiderers of Makkah, crafts that have shaped homes, mosques, and cities for centuries are still vibrant today.
Bedouin Weaving
In the vast deserts of Arabia, where landscapes appear austere and endless, Bedouin women have for centuries created beauty from the simplest of materials. Using the wool of their camels, sheep, and goats, they wove vibrant textiles—bold geometric designs in deep reds, blacks, and whites—that adorned tents, protected families from the elements, and carried symbolic meaning.
A Journey to Arabia Felix
In the vast deserts of Arabia, where landscapes appear austere and endless, Bedouin women have for centuries created beauty from the simplest of materials. Using the wool of their camels, sheep, and goats, they wove vibrant textiles—bold geometric designs in deep reds, blacks, and whites—that adorned tents, protected families from the elements, and carried symbolic meaning.