About the book
The Nobel Prize-winning author offers an insightful follow-up to his landmark travelogue Among the Believers: a \"brilliant … powerfully observed, stylistically elegant exploration\" (The New York Times) that’s the result of a five-month journey through Indonesia, Iran, Pakistan, and Malaysia, countries where dreams of Islamic purity clash with economic and political realities.
Fourteen years after the publication of his landmark travel narrative Among the Believers, V. S. Naipaul returned to the four non-Arab Islamic countries he reported on so vividly at the time of Ayatollah Khomeini's triumph in Iran. Beyond Belief is the result of his five-month journey in 1995 through lands where descendants of Muslim converts live at odds with indigenous traditions.
In extended conversations with a vast number of people—a rare survivor of the martyr brigades of the Iran-Iraq war, a young intellectual training as a Marxist guerilla in Baluchistan, an impoverished elderly couple in Teheran whose dusty Baccarat chandeliers preserve the memory of vanished wealth, and countless others—V. S. Naipaul deliberately effaces himself to let the voices of his subjects come through. Yet the result is a collection of stories that has the author's unmistakable stamp. With its incisive observation and brilliant cultural analysis, Beyond Belief is a startling and revelatory addition to the Naipaul canon.
Editions of Beyond Belief
- Hardcover
- ISBN 9780375501180
- Paperback
- ISBN 9780375706486
- Paperback
- ISBN 9780307401441
- EBook
- ISBN 9780307401458
- EBook
- ISBN 9780307828415
Read an Excerpt
The Nobel Prize-winning author offers an insightful follow-up to his landmark travelogue Among the Believers: a \"brilliant … powerfully observed, stylistically elegant exploration\" (The New York Times) that’s the result of a five-month journey through Indonesia, Iran, Pakistan, and Malaysia, countries where dreams of Islamic purity clash with economic and political realities.
Fourteen years after the publication of his landmark travel narrative Among the Believers, V. S. Naipaul returned to the four non-Arab Islamic countries he reported on so vividly at the time of Ayatollah Khomeini's triumph in Iran. Beyond Belief is the result of his five-month journey in 1995 through lands where descendants of Muslim converts live at odds with indigenous traditions.
In extended conversations with a vast number of people—a rare survivor of the martyr brigades of the Iran-Iraq war, a young intellectual training as a Marxist guerilla in Baluchistan, an impoverished elderly couple in Teheran whose dusty Baccarat chandeliers preserve the memory of vanished wealth, and countless others—V. S. Naipaul deliberately effaces himself to let the voices of his subjects come through. Yet the result is a collection of stories that has the author's unmistakable stamp. With its incisive observation and brilliant cultural analysis, Beyond Belief is a startling and revelatory addition to the Naipaul canon.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Beyond Belief about?
The Nobel Prize-winning author offers an insightful follow-up to his landmark travelogue Among the Believers: a \"brilliant … powerfully observed, stylistically elegant exploration\" (The New York Times) that’s the result of a five-month journey through Indonesia, Iran, Pakistan, and Malaysia, countries where dreams of Islamic purity clash with economic and political realities.
Fourteen years after the publication of his landmark travel narrative Among the Believers, V. S. Naipaul returned to the four non-Arab Islamic countries he reported on so vividly at the time of Ayatollah Khomeini's triumph in Iran. Beyond Belief is the result of his five-month journey in 1995 through lands where descendants of Muslim converts live at odds with indigenous traditions.
In extended conversations with a vast number of people—a rare survivor of the martyr brigades of the Iran-Iraq war, a young intellectual training as a Marxist guerilla in Baluchistan, an impoverished elderly couple in Teheran whose dusty Baccarat chandeliers preserve the memory of vanished wealth, and countless others—V. S. Naipaul deliberately effaces himself to let the voices of his subjects come through. Yet the result is a collection of stories that has the author's unmistakable stamp. With its incisive observation and brilliant cultural analysis, Beyond Belief is a startling and revelatory addition to the Naipaul canon.
What core themes, tropes, or subjects are explored in Beyond Belief?
Philosophy and Religion > Religion and beliefs > Islam > Islamic life and practice
Where can I read a sample of Beyond Belief?
You can read an official preview of the few pages here https://www.book2look.com/book/9780375501180
Is Beyond Belief part of a series, and can it be read as a standalone?
Yes it is a part of series Vintage International
Who is/are the Author/s of the book Beyond Belief?
V. S. Naipaul
What are the ISBN numbers for the physical and digital editions?
Beyond Belief is available as hardcover(ISBN 9780375501180) and paperback(ISBN 9780375706486) and paperback(ISBN 9780307401441) and ebook(ISBN 9780307401458) and ebook(ISBN 9780307828415)
Where can I buy Beyond Belief online or support local independent bookshops?
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Where can I buy Beyond Belief?