For millennia, the Arab world has been one of extremes: a place where wind-swept desert plains coexist with tropical climes and rich vegetation. It is a place where the splendor and majesty of some of the largest and oldest cities on earth provide a stark contrast to wandering desert nomads who travel with all belongings in tow-a place where warring peoples are as common as a depth of spiritual commitment found few places on earth.This novel traces...