Al-'atfa, the epic of love and death

Number of pages: 136 pages Publisher: Arab House for Science Publishers The novel "Al-'Atfa" by its author Hussein Raheem delves into the depth of Bedouin life in the Arabian desert, where tribes, sheikhs, and wars among them exist. "Al-'Atfa" carries that symbol which we have known in ancient and contemporary history. The writer drew inspiration from those traditions and laws that govern that desert extending between the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Syria, and other Gulf countries, as if it were an independent world. The author does not specify the location of the novel, whether it belongs to this country or that, although sometimes it hints that it is the desert of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. But there is no mention of the name of a city or village. The borders between tribes are just distant, and there are power struggles, but these are wars without treachery, conspiracy, or attempts at control, where the invader informs the target days in advance to prepare for defense. This is the utmost of bravery, heroism, and chivalry. "Al-'Atfa" is the most beautiful girl of the tribe, riding a camel with her head uncovered, leading the knights, encouraging and urging them to victory. Usually, the knights wait and protect her so she does not fall into captivity. She is the direct cause of defeating the supposed enemy, which is another tribe that has encroached on the lands of the invading tribe.