Described by the author as simply "a work of love," Mirror to Damascus
provides a rich and fascinating history of Damascus from the Amorites of
the Bible to the revolution of 1966, and is also a charming and witty
personal record of an extraordinary city. In explaining how modern
Damascus is rooted in immemorial layers of culture and tradition, Colin
Thubron explores the historical, artistic, social and religious
inheritance of its people. Along the way, he shares unforgettable
stories about the enterprising travelers of bygone days. Mirror to
Damascus is a unique portrait of a city now obscured by recent
upheavals, by one of the most indefatigable and popular of travel
writers.