{"product_id":"9781590209202","title":"The Arabian Nightmare","description":"\u003cb\u003eA cult classic that “combines the genres of travelogue, fable, dream narrative, novel and confessional into one beguiling whole” (\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003ePublishers Weekly\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cb\u003e).\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e  \u003cbr\u003e The hero and guiding force of this epic fantasy is an insomniac young man who, unable to sleep, guides the reader through the narrow streets of Cairo—a mysterious city full of deceit and trickery.\u003cbr\u003e  \u003cbr\u003e He narrates a complex tangle of dreams and imaginings that describe an atmosphere constantly shifting between sumptuously learned experiences, erotic adventure, and dry humor. The result is a thought-provoking puzzle box of sex, philosophy, and theology, reminiscent of Italo Calvino and Umberto Eco.\u003cbr\u003e  \u003cbr\u003e “Deft and lovely . . . The smooth steely grip of Irwin’s story-telling genius is a joy to read.” —\u003ci\u003eThe Washington Post\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e  \u003cbr\u003e “\u003ci\u003eThe Arabian Nightmare \u003c\/i\u003eis a conceit worthy of Borges.” —\u003ci\u003eThe New York Times\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e  \u003cbr\u003e “[Irwin’s] fascination for inner perception, helped along with a delight in Scheherazadian frames and exotic lore, makes for quite a rich experience: a strangely playful construct that, like an intricate Chinese box, delights with each unexpected combination and hidden drawer.” —\u003ci\u003eKirkus Reviews\u003c\/i\u003e","brand":"The Overlook Press","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":47164181479664,"sku":"9781590209202","price":16.95,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0737\/7593\/9824\/files\/9781590209202_p0.jpg?v=1763809601","url":"https:\/\/shop-qa.barnesandnoble.com\/products\/9781590209202","provider":"Barnes \u0026 Noble (DEV)","version":"1.0","type":"link"}