Bedouin Justice: Laws and Customs amongst the Egyptian Bedouin

Originally published in 1925, this volume provides an introduction to the rich and complicated traditions of Bedouin law. Written from the author's own experiences after spending more than seven years in the deserts of Egypt and Sinai, it was intended to dispel the myths that had developed around Bedouin culture within western society. The text studiously avoids these forms of condemnation and sentimentalisation in focusing on particular examples of justice in practice, thus revealing the subtle network of human relationships around which the culture was formed. It is written with an affection that reveals the author's genuine admiration for Bedouin traditions, but does not shy away from revealing the problems within these traditions. This important book will be of value to anyone with an interest in Bedouin culture, anthropology or law.