Publisher's Synopsis
The Sheik is a novel written by E.M. Hull that was first published in 1919. The book tells the story of a wealthy and independent Englishwoman named Diana Mayo who travels to Algeria for a vacation. While there, she meets a handsome and mysterious Arab sheik named Ahmed Ben Hassan, who kidnaps her and takes her to his desert palace.At first, Diana is terrified of Ahmed and angry at being taken against her will. However, as she spends more time with him, she begins to see a different side of him and falls in love with him. Ahmed, too, is drawn to Diana, but he is conflicted by his duty to his people and his desire for her.The novel explores themes of cultural differences, gender roles, and the nature of love. It also paints a vivid picture of life in the Algerian desert and the tensions between the Arab and European worlds.The Sheik was a controversial book when it was first published, as it challenged traditional gender roles and depicted a romantic relationship between a white woman and an Arab man. Nevertheless, it was immensely popular and has been adapted into several films, including a 1921 silent film starring Rudolph Valentino.The first modern romance novel, and the basis for Rudolph Valentino's film.This scarce antiquarian book is a facsimile reprint of the old original and may contain some imperfections such as library marks and notations. Because we believe this work is culturally important, we have made it available as part of our commitment for protecting, preserving, and promoting the world's literature in affordable, high quality, modern editions, that are true to their original work.
