Mysteries of the Desert [Hardcover]

Isabel Cutler (Photographer)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 22, 2001

Journey into the Arabian desert, a place few outsiders have ever visited. With an insight and sensitivity that reveal her love of this region, Isabel Cutler demystifies the landscape and people in Mysteries of the Desert. Dramatic lighting, shadows, and cloud patterns punctuate the moody desertscapes and provide a fascinating counterpoint to portraits of the vibrant Bedouins who live in this stark land. Cutler's full-color photographs celebrate the hearty life in the desert, exploring the subtle patterns made by windswept dunes, sand textures produced by the erosion of rock, and relics of ancient palaces. Accompanying the evocative images are excerpts from classic and modern Arabic verse--a tribute to the rich oral and written poetry traditions of the culture. This captivating book reveals the timeless essence of the land and its people.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"A book of great artistry and precision--a rare combination--which, through stunning photographs and accompanying poetry, captures the special, mysterious magic of the desert, and the sense of the great Arabic culture that lies behind it."--Richard C. Holbrooke, Counselor, Council on Foreign Relations

"These intense images of the desert, with its always surprising variety, will haunt you in the best possible way--they will linger with you."--Cokie Roberts, ABC News, National Public Radio

"Isabel Cutler has captured the mystery, the magic and the poetry of a fabled desert kingdom with a dazzling display of her nonpareil talent."--Arnaud de Borchgrave, prize-winning international journalist

"Isabel Cutler's haunting, evocative photographs--accompanied by selections from Arabic poetry--are a feast for the soul as well as the eyes."--Selwa "Lucky" Roosevelt, former U.S. Chief of Protocol

About the Author

Isabel Cutler is an internationally-renowned photographer who has spent a large part of the last twenty-five years living and traveling in the Middle East. Her photography subjects include the stunning landscapes of the Middle East and portraits of prominent statesmen, royal families, artists, authors, and everyday people. Her work has appeared in prestigious magazines and newspapers including Architectural Digest, Vanity Fair, Newsweek, the New York Times, the Washington Post, and the London Times. It has also been featured in exhibitions in the Middle East, Northern Africa, and the United States. Cutler's photographs are displayed in embassies and offices around the world, and in many private collections.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 160 pages
• Publisher: Rizzoli (September 22, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0847823598
• ISBN-13: 978-0847823598
• Product Dimensions: 11.4 x 9.4 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.4 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,822,560 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Treasure of a Book, November 13, 2001

By 

Connie Crosby (North Hollywood, CA USA) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Mysteries of the Desert (Hardcover)

This book is a gift to read - which may be why I keep ordering additional copies to give as gifts to my friends. The photographs, taken over a twenty-five year journey into the Aranbian desert are combined with exquisite poetry selections that beautifully articulate the visual images. Through the book I've journeyed to a part of the world I'd never seen. Included are pictures of Bedouin men and women, camels, and the most sensuous desert imaginable. A rare book that's a real tour de force.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An Unlikely Tool to Dispel Racism, September 20, 2001

By A Customer

This review is from: Mysteries of the Desert (Hardcover)

I stumbled upon this book and could not believe how timely it is. Not only does this lovely photographic book feature beautiful images of sand dunes and people in far away places, accompanied by imaginative poetry, but it shows the side of Arabia that President George Bush and New York City Mayor Rudolph Guiliani, among others, are asking us to remember in light of the difficult times.

We are lucky to have at our fingertips, in a moment of need, an artistic expression of this part of the world to remind us of beauty and not fear.

I intend to share this book with as many people as I can, not only because of the stunning photography and magical poetry, but because I have found solace in its pages.

I proudly display it in my library.