Travels in the Orient

The German archaeologist and explorer Max von Oppenheim

Enchanted by the Myth of the Orient

Max von Oppenheim was an astute observer of the Near East. He was also captivated by its history, culture and way of life. In fact, Oppenheim's entire adult life is an illustration of how difficult it is to reconcile the captivating dream of the Orient with the sober political reality of the region – a difficulty that remains to this day. By Kersten Knipp
Women's centre "Bait al Karama"

Nablus is cooking again!

Kanafeh, spices, oils and breads of the finest quality – Nablus has always been renowned for its excellent cuisine. The Bait al Karama initiative seeks to raise the profile of this cuisine and to underline the importance of food for any culture. Ulrike Schleicher visited Bait al Karama and its cookery school, the first organised by women in the West Bank
The 100th Anniversary of Karl May's Death

Literary Genius or Man of Legendary Hubris?

Karl May is the most widely read of all German writers. This year, which marks the 100th anniversary of his death, a number of new biographies seek to reconsider Karl May's place in German literary history. Andreas Pflitsch read two of them
The Legend of Lawrence of Arabia

The Recalcitrant Hero

With the benefit of hindsight, there is something superhuman about his character. However, more than almost anyone else, Lawrence embodies the transformation from hero to anti-hero that shaped literature in the twentieth century. By Stefan Weidner
Muhammad Asad

A Jewish Lawrence of Arabia

Born to a rabbi family Muhammad Asad became an important twentieth-century Islamic thinker. Today he is a landmark for a tolerant and contemporary interpretation of the faith. A portrait by Lewis Gropp
Edward Said's "Orientalism"

The Orient beyond Cliché

The Palestinian-American literary scholar Edward Said (1935 – 2003) is required reading for anyone talking about Islam today. His main work, Orientalism, recently came out in a new German translation. Stefan Weidner read it for Qantara.de
Historical Travelogues by Women

Lugging a Piano to Khartoum

Up until the 20th century, it was uncommon for European women to travel the Orient. Those who did, however, shared attitudes ranging from open curiosity and sympathy to the shameless conceit of superiority and racism – just like their men. By Andreas Pflitsch
Max Baron of Oppenheim

An Encyclopedic Travelogue Free from the Arrogance of the Time

As diplomat and explorer, Max Baron of Oppenheim's knowledge of the Orient was exceptional for the time. His interest in the Arab world was unique as well in that it was free from condescension. A portrait by Andreas Pflitsch
Gertrude Bell's Orient Travels

Escape from the Tight Corset of the Modern Age

Gertrude Bell was one of the few women that in the 19th century travelled the Orient. In trying to escape rigid Victorian conventions, she ended up as an agent for the British Secret Service and as personal advisor to Iraq's King Faisal I. By Andreas Pflitsch
Pierre Loti

Dreams of the Orient

Under the pen name Pierre Loti, Frenchman Julien Viaud brought us the zeitgeist of Orientalism in literary form. His autobiographically inspired novels paint a romantic picture of the "mysterious" Orient and manifest a longing for the exotic. Susan Javad reports