The Mercy of Allah

First published in 1922, "The Mercy of Allah" describes the Arab civilization through a series of extraordinary tales a wealthy grandfather relates to his beloved grandchildren. Belloc sardonically recounts the exploits of the grandfather, Mahmoud, a sharp Baghdad merchant turned moneylender who has grasped and clawed his way to the top.

Ostensibly a critique of Islamic culture from many centuries ago, the book is really an attack on the unbridled greed of the modern West.