
Lion of Petra (Annotated)
Enriched Edition. A Jimgrim Adventure of Desert Espionage, Tribal Intrigue, and Postwar TransjordanBy Talbot MundyLength6h 44m
About this audiobook
Lion of Petra is a vigorous Near Eastern adventure set amid the ruins, tribal politics, and postwar uncertainties of Transjordan. Centered on the resourceful Jimgrim, Mundy's recurring intelligence agent, the novel combines espionage, desert romance, and political intrigue with a richly atmospheric evocation of Petra's "rose-red" antiquity. Its style is brisk and dramatic, yet more reflective than ordinary pulp fiction, belonging to the imperial adventure tradition while also questioning its assumptions through attention to Arab agency, loyalty, and power. Talbot Mundy, born William Lancaster Gribbon in England and later naturalized in the United States, drew on years of travel, soldiering, and experience in colonial environments across India, Africa, and the Middle East. His fascination with esoteric religion, anti-bureaucratic heroes, and cultures beyond Europe shaped his fiction. In Lion of Petra, these interests converge: the desert becomes not merely an exotic stage but a testing ground for character, wisdom, and political imagination. Readers drawn to classic adventure fiction, early twentieth-century espionage, or literary portrayals of the modern Middle East will find Lion of Petra especially rewarding. Though marked by its period, it remains energetic, intelligent, and unusually alert to the moral ambiguities of empire.
This enriched edition has been carefully crafted to add value to your reading experience.
- A succinct Introduction situates the work's timeless appeal and themes.
- The Synopsis outlines the central plot, highlighting key developments without spoiling critical twists.
- A detailed Historical Context immerses you in the era's events and influences that shaped the writing.
- A thorough Analysis dissects symbols, motifs, and character arcs to unearth underlying meanings.
- Reflection questions prompt you to engage personally with the work's messages, connecting them to modern life.
- Hand‐picked Memorable Quotes shine a spotlight on moments of literary brilliance.
- Interactive footnotes clarify unusual references, historical allusions, and archaic phrases for an effortless, more informed read.
Audiobook details
GenreMystery and Thriller, Action and Adventure
Length6 hrs 44 mins
Narrated byListen with 1,000+ voices
FormateBook with Audio
Publish dateJul 20, 2018
LanguageEnglish
Table of contents
1Lion of Petra (Annotated)
2Introduction
3Synopsis
4Historical Context
5CHAPTER 1 “Allah makes all things easy!”
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6CHAPTER 2 “Trust in God, but tie your camel!”
7CHAPTER 3 “Ali Higg’s brains live in a black tent!”
8CHAPTER 4 “Go and ask the kites, then, at Dat Rasi”
9CHAPTER 5 “Let that mother of snakes beware”
10CHAPTER 6 “Him and me—same father!”
11CHAPTER 7 “You got cold feet?”
12CHAPTER 8 He cools his wrath in the moonlight, communing with Allah!”
13CHAPTER 9 “I think we’ve got the Lion of Petra on the hip!”
14CHAPTER 10 “There’s no room for the two of you!”
15CHAPTER 11 “That we make a profit from this venture!”
16CHAPTER 12 “Yet I forgot to speak of the twenty aeroplanes!”
17CHAPTER 13 “There is a trick to ruling!”
18Analysis
19Reflection
20Memorable Quotes