Hilary Mantel - Eight Months on Ghazzah Street

This novel is entirely a work of fiction. The names, characters and incidents portrayed in it are the work of the author’s imagination. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events or localities is entirely coincidental.

Fourth Estate

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Paperback edition published by Harper Perennial 2004

First published in Great Britain by Viking 1988

Copyright © Hilary Mantel 1988

The right of Hilary Mantel to be identified as the author of this work has been asserted by her in accordance with the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988

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Source ISBN: 9780007172917

Ebook Edition © MAY 2010 ISBN: 9780007354955

Version: 2019-06-07

For Vic and Jeanie Camp

Cover Page

Title Page Eight Months on Ghazzah Street Hilary Mantel

Copyright

Dedication Dedication Dedication Author’s Note Part One September 1984 IN FLIGHT Muharram Safar Rabi al-awal Rabi al-thani Part Two Jamadi al-awal Jamadi al-thani Rajab Shaban Keep Reading P.S. About the author About the book Read on About the Author Excerpt from Wolf Hall by Hilary Mantel By the Same Author About the Publisher For Vic and Jeanie Camp

Author’s Note Note Saudi Arabia employs the Hijra calendar, which starts from the year AD 622, when Muhammed left Mecca for Medina. It is a lunar calendar, and the Hijra year is eleven days shorter than the Gregorian year. The months (with many variations in transliteration) are as follows: Muharram, Safar, Rabi al-awal, Rabi al-thani, Jamadi al-awal, Jamadi al-thani, Rajab, Shaban, Ramadhan, Shawal, Dhu-al-qudah, Dhu-al-hijjah. By a recent Royal Decree, a 365-day year has been instituted for fiscal purposes, and 22 December 1986 became 1 Capricorn. The recalculations involved make the fiscal year some forty years behind the Hijra year. So, not the least surprising aspect of life in the Kingdom is that time can appear to run backwards.

Part One Part One CONFIDENTIAL MEMORANDUM FROM: Director, Turadup, William and Schaper, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia TO: All expatriate staff DATED: 15 Shawal/3 July 1985 I need not remind anyone of this week’s tragic events involving Turadup employees. In order to safeguard the company’s position in these very difficult times, I must request all staff and families about to depart on leave to behave as follows: A. Refrain from talking to the press – whatever your holiday destination. B: Refrain from public speculation about the recent deaths – remember that the matter is still under investigation by the Saudi police and Her Majesty’s representatives. c. Exercise the utmost caution in personal conduct between now and your departure – dispose (carefully) of all items or substances which could attract the interest of the police, and do not leave your compound without your documents. I feel sure that if these precautions are observed, we may expect a continuance of good relations with the Saudi authorities, and a smooth passage into the next Five-Year Plan. May I take this opportunity to wish you, on behalf of Daphne and myself, a pleasant vacation and a safe return to the Kingdom after Haj. Sincerely – ERIC PARSONS

September 1984 IN FLIGHT

Muharram

Safar

Rabi al-awal

Rabi al-thani

Part Two

Jamadi al-awal

Jamadi al-thani

Rajab

Shaban

Keep Reading

P.S.

About the author

About the book

Read on

About the Author

Excerpt from Wolf Hall by Hilary Mantel

By the Same Author

About the Publisher

Saudi Arabia employs the Hijra calendar, which starts from the year AD 622, when Muhammed left Mecca for Medina. It is a lunar calendar, and the Hijra year is eleven days shorter than the Gregorian year. The months (with many variations in transliteration) are as follows: Muharram, Safar, Rabi al-awal, Rabi al-thani, Jamadi al-awal, Jamadi al-thani, Rajab, Shaban, Ramadhan, Shawal, Dhu-al-qudah, Dhu-al-hijjah. By a recent Royal Decree, a 365-day year has been instituted for fiscal purposes, and 22 December 1986 became 1 Capricorn. The recalculations involved make the fiscal year some forty years behind the Hijra year. So, not the least surprising aspect of life in the Kingdom is that time can appear to run backwards.

CONFIDENTIAL MEMORANDUM

FROM: Director, Turadup, William and Schaper, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

TO: All expatriate staff

DATED: 15 Shawal/3 July 1985

I need not remind anyone of this week’s tragic events involving Turadup employees. In order to safeguard the company’s position in these very difficult times, I must request all staff and families about to depart on leave to behave as follows:

A. Refrain from talking to the press – whatever your holiday destination.

B: Refrain from public speculation about the recent deaths – remember that the matter is still under investigation by the Saudi police and Her Majesty’s representatives.

c. Exercise the utmost caution in personal conduct between now and your departure – dispose (carefully) of all items or substances which could attract the interest of the police, and do not leave your compound without your documents.

I feel sure that if these precautions are observed, we may expect a continuance of good relations with the Saudi authorities, and a smooth passage into the next Five-Year Plan.