By Tommy Kelleher
Contributing Writer
In recent years, the Middle East has been dominated almost exclusively by Islam. Historically, however, it has held a variety of other faiths. These religions—many of which predate Christianity—still exist as minorities today. But their survival is threatened by the volatile political landscape surrounding them.
In his first book, titled “Heirs to Forgotten Kingdoms,” former diplomat Gerard Russell provides a fascinating, though at times poorly written, view of these various faiths. His first-hand experiences with native peoples are remarkable, but they are diluted by needless anecdotes and other extraneous information.
Russell provides a detailed account of seven ancient faiths, including their history, beliefs, rituals and his own interactions with them. In many cases, he recounts traveling to remote, violent regions of the Middle East to meet the remaining members of these fading religions.
Each chapter covers one of the seven featured religions, making the book well organized and easily navigable. In each of these chapters, however, loosely related religions are mixed in without any warning. The result is an unfortunate jumble of unfamiliar names that the reader is forced to organize.
At times, Russell’s personal experiences are the book’s greatest asset, but otherwise seem indiscriminately scattered with pointless anecdotes. In one chapter, Russell writes about going to a bookstore to research the Druze religion, even though the account holds little to no significance. At another point, Russell describes how he was “in love with Arabic” upon arriving in Cairo, something that should not take up a full page in an academic, journalistic book. Unfortunately, every chapter is saturated with similar unnecessary passages.
Despite these flaws, which at times obstruct comprehension, “Heirs to Forgotten Kingdoms” is a remarkably easy-read, especially considering its topic. Russell is careful not to make any assumptions about the reader’s knowledge base; someone entirely unversed in Middle Eastern history can easily understand it.
Many of the featured religions are subject to regional prejudices from Muslims and in some cases, other minority groups. As a foreigner, Russell possesses a rare, unbiased perspective, and his equal respect for each religion translates to a work where all values are appropriately represented.
In each chapter, Russell recounts the experiences he had with people of the different religions: traveling to their villages, staying in homes or speaking with refugees. The book’s greatest value is in these interactions, where he is able to humanize people who may soon be confined to history books, as many of these religions are on the brink of extinction.
While he may be overly focused in personal annecdotes, Russell’s account of dying Middle Eastern religions in “Heirs to the Forgotten Kingdom” is so historically valuable that his shortsights are easily over-looked.
“Heirs to Forgotten Kingdoms” is available digitally and in retail for $14.99.
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