---
product_id: 8597257
title: "The Marsh Arabs (Penguin Classics)"
price: "$39.51"
currency: USD
in_stock: true
reviews_count: 13
url: https://www.desertcart.us/products/8597257-the-marsh-arabs-penguin-classics
store_origin: US
region: United States of America
---

# The Marsh Arabs (Penguin Classics)

**Price:** $39.51
**Availability:** ✅ In Stock

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- **What is this?** The Marsh Arabs (Penguin Classics)
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## Description

The Marsh Arabs (Penguin Classics) [Thesiger, Wilfred, Anderson, Jon Lee] on desertcart.com. *FREE* shipping on qualifying offers. The Marsh Arabs (Penguin Classics)

Review: Lovely Book. A Case Study in Stateless Societies. - I am studying the state. James C Scott has written several books discussing the state v. stateless peoples, deep in time and on the edges of modern states in our own time. One stateless people are (were) the Marsh Arabs, the book itself a charming odyssey among the marshes, lakes, peoples (tribes) of the Tigris - Euphrates delta. At another level, the book touches on the convergence between history and anthropology which is so useful today. (Not the author's intent; he's more of a wanderer or explorer. He writes beautifully.) Cheers.
Review: Well written, engaging, unique - An excellent read; the writing style is both descriptive and engaging, and the story itself fascinating. The book includes over a hundred photographic plates which augment the story tremendously, especially for the amazing reed mudhifs which are frequently the setting. (The photos and more can be found in the Pitt Rivers Museum collection). I have not yet read Arabian Sands but reviews of that earlier work complained about Thesiger's primitivism and romanticization of the Bedouin - I didn't see much of that in this book, only shades, and overall the telling is fairly forthright and balanced. Clearly Thesiger is no fan of modernization, but relative to the conditions in more urban Iraq at the time, there are no clear "rights" or "wrongs" on this position. In any event, it doesn't get in the way of the narrative, which captures a disappearing culture in rich depth and perspective.

## Technical Specifications

| Specification | Value |
|---------------|-------|
| Best Sellers Rank | #604,016 in Books ( See Top 100 in Books ) #242 in General Asia Travel Books #621 in Travelogues & Travel Essays #2,221 in Traveler & Explorer Biographies |
| Customer Reviews | 4.6 4.6 out of 5 stars (287) |
| Dimensions  | 5.1 x 0.63 x 7.8 inches |
| Edition  | Reissue |
| ISBN-10  | 0141442085 |
| ISBN-13  | 978-0141442082 |
| Item Weight  | 8.8 ounces |
| Language  | English |
| Print length  | 256 pages |
| Publication date  | January 2, 2008 |
| Publisher  | Penguin Classics |

## Images

![The Marsh Arabs (Penguin Classics) - Image 1](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/61yXVA-BQOL.jpg)

## Customer Reviews

### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Lovely Book. A Case Study in Stateless Societies.
*by R***L on April 24, 2021*

I am studying the state. James C Scott has written several books discussing the state v. stateless peoples, deep in time and on the edges of modern states in our own time. One stateless people are (were) the Marsh Arabs, the book itself a charming odyssey among the marshes, lakes, peoples (tribes) of the Tigris - Euphrates delta. At another level, the book touches on the convergence between history and anthropology which is so useful today. (Not the author's intent; he's more of a wanderer or explorer. He writes beautifully.) Cheers.

### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Well written, engaging, unique
*by D***O on January 20, 2013*

An excellent read; the writing style is both descriptive and engaging, and the story itself fascinating. The book includes over a hundred photographic plates which augment the story tremendously, especially for the amazing reed mudhifs which are frequently the setting. (The photos and more can be found in the Pitt Rivers Museum collection). I have not yet read Arabian Sands but reviews of that earlier work complained about Thesiger's primitivism and romanticization of the Bedouin - I didn't see much of that in this book, only shades, and overall the telling is fairly forthright and balanced. Clearly Thesiger is no fan of modernization, but relative to the conditions in more urban Iraq at the time, there are no clear "rights" or "wrongs" on this position. In any event, it doesn't get in the way of the narrative, which captures a disappearing culture in rich depth and perspective.

### ⭐⭐⭐⭐ Four Stars
*by R***H on March 14, 2016*

Great book-not as good as other one, but still worth reading.

## Frequently Bought Together

- The Marsh Arabs (Penguin Classics)
- Arabian Sands (Penguin Classics)
- The Life of My Choice

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*Product available on Desertcart United States of America*
*Store origin: US*
*Last updated: 2026-03-04*