The Pigeon Wars of Damascus

by Marius Kociejowski

Overview

Marius Kociejowski follows up his now classic The Street Philosopher and the Holy Fool with The Pigeon Wars of Damascus. A metaphysical journalist in search of echoes rather than analogies, hints as opposed to verities, Kociejowski discovers once again at the periphery of Damascene society—for the outcast is often made of the very thing that rejects him—a way to understand the challenges and changes refashioning post-9/11 Syria and the Middle East, reminding us once again of the deeper purpose of travel: to absorb and understand the spirit of a place, and to return changed.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781897231975
Publisher:	Biblioasis
Publication date:	04/05/2011
Pages:	328
Product dimensions:	5.40(w) x 8.40(h) x 1.10(d)

About the Author

Marius Kociejowski: Marius Kociejowski was born and raised in Canada, and now lives in England. A poet, essayist and travel writer, he is the award-winning author of four collections of poetry, The Street Philosopher and the Holy Fool, and is the editor of Syria Through Writers' Eyes. He lives and works as a bookseller in London.

Table of Contents

Prologue 11

'Watch Out for your Antennae!' 17

The Blue Ball 32

Allah's Proclaimers: A Short History of Pigeons in the Islamic World (1) 46

Pigeon Stew 54

A Cure for Djinns 74

A Demon Chasing a Demoness: A Short History of Pigeons in the Islamic World (2) 90

The Daybook of Yasser Sagherie 97

Meeting the Judge 116

A Golden Platter of Cherries: A Short History of Pigeons in the Islamic World (3) 134

Satan's Horn 142

Interlude, with Brown Dog 162

Portents 172

Armageddon at the Qaboon Pigeon Café 189

War Doves: A Short History of Pigeons in the Islamic World (4) 203

An Occidentalist Goes to Leighton House 213

The Father of Skulls 227

Three Sultans: A Short History of Pigeons in the Islamic World (5) 246

A Turkmen Cloth 254

The University of Pain 273

The Caliph an-Nasir's Ardour: A Short History of Pigeons in the Islamic World (6) 293

A Reunion of Parts Broken 300

Epilogue 317

Select Bibliography 323

Acknowledgements 325

What People are Saying About This

From the Publisher

The Pigeon Wars of Damascus is a fascinating and at times challenging book that reminds us, 'We cannot feed on the picturesque alone.' —The Winnipeg Review

Editorial Reviews

The Pigeon Wars of Damascus is a fascinating and at times challenging book that reminds us, 'We cannot feed on the picturesque alone.' —The Winnipeg Review

The Pigeon Wars of Damascus is a fascinating and at times challenging book that reminds us, 'We cannot feed on the picturesque alone.' —The Winnipeg Review

From the Publisher