'Footprints of a Pen in the Middle East' is a notable and unique selection by the distinguished journalist and writer Fouad Matar. This trilogy, unlike his previous works, will certainly hold a special place among his many remarkable publications. The trilogy includes articles published by the international Arab newspaper, as indicated by the title. The first volume, which we have here, contains articles published in 'Asharq Al-Awsat' from May 1994 to May 1999. The second volume will encompass articles from 2000 to 2002, while the third will focus on articles between 2003 and the end of 2005. If we examine this book under the title 'Years of Discord and Animosity from the Ocean to the Gulf,' we find sixty-six articles discussing the key issues concerning Arabs during this five-year span. These are, naturally, the most significant issues that preoccupied the Arab world during that period, and in these articles, we observe Fouad Matar's usual comprehensive Arab perspective. From Yemen in the south of the Arabian Peninsula to the Western Sahara in the far Maghreb, from the Gulf's concerns to its regional anxieties, from Arab-Arab relations to Arab-International relations, and from the stances of rulers and governments to their relations with each other and with their citizens. The writer's approach remains consistent, emphasizing renewal in approach and reviewing positions in light of evolving events.

Publishing house: Arab Scientific Publishers/Lebanon

Number of Pages: 352

Year of publication: 2005