Barbara Bray (1924–2010)
Author of Ibn Saud: The Desert Warrior Who Created the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
About the Author
Barbara Bray (née Jacobs) was born on November 24, 1924 in Paddington, London. She died on February 25, 2010. Bray was an English translator and critic. She translated the correspondence of Gustave Flaubert, and work by leading French speaking writers of her own time including Marguerite Duras, show more Amin Maalouf, Julia Kristeva, Michel Quint, Jean Anouilh, Michel Tournier, Jean Genet, Alain Bosquet, Réjean Ducharme and Philippe Sollers. She received the PEN Translation Prize in 1986. She had a personal and professional relationship with the married Samuel Beckett that continued for the rest of his life, and Bray was one of the few people with whom he discussed his work. Bray suffered a stroke at the end of 2003, but despite this disability she continued to write Beckett's memoirs, Let Mortals Rejoice..., which she could not complete. Bray recorded some of her reflections about Beckett in a series of conversations with her friend, Marek Kedzierski, from 2004 to 2009. Excerpts have been published in many languages, but not English as of yet. (Bowker Author Biography) show less
Works by Barbara Bray
Ibn Saud: The Desert Warrior Who Created the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (2010) — Author — 72 copies, 3 reviews
Associated Works
Montaillou: The Promised Land of Error (1975) — Translator, some editions — 1,854 copies, 19 reviews
Times of Feast, Times of Famine: A History of Climate Since the Year 1000 (1967) — Translator, some editions — 67 copies, 2 reviews
Tagged
Common Knowledge
- Canonical name
- Bray, Barbara
- Other names
- Jacobs, Barbara
- Birthdate
- 1924-11-24
- Date of death
- 2010-02-25
- Burial location
- body donated to science
- Gender
- female
- Nationality
- UK
- Birthplace
- Maida Hill, London, England, UK
- Place of death
- Edinburgh, Scotland, UK
- Places of residence
- Harrow, London, England, UK
Cairo, Egypt
Alexandria, Egypt
Paris, France
Edinburgh, Scotland, UK - Education
- Cambridge University (Girton) (English)
- Occupations
- script editor
translator
radio producer
critic - Relationships
- Beckett, Samuel (partner)
Classe, Olive (sister) - Awards and honors
- PEN Translation Prize (1986)
Members
Reviews
The rise of the house of Ibn Saud has been written in a lot of blood. It is so amazing that he emerged out of all this mayhem unscathed and in one piece. It seems that they (the house of Saud) was always in conflict with the other powerful families the Al Rashids, the Hashemites and later the Ikhwan, the fanatical wahabbi cult.
The is a continuation of the same trend we are seeing today which is the founding of a theocratic state with the full blessing of the fanatical wahabbi ulemas. As history has proved that autocratic, socialist states have a very short shelf life and are bound to fail sooner or later because they deny the Individual his funamental right which is freedom of expression.
The same analogy can be drawn here where a very small elite comprised mainly of members of the ruling family are controlling the destiny of more than 25 million of their fellow countrymen will sooner than later prove quite untenable.… (more)
The is a continuation of the same trend we are seeing today which is the founding of a theocratic state with the full blessing of the fanatical wahabbi ulemas. As history has proved that autocratic, socialist states have a very short shelf life and are bound to fail sooner or later because they deny the Individual his funamental right which is freedom of expression.
The same analogy can be drawn here where a very small elite comprised mainly of members of the ruling family are controlling the destiny of more than 25 million of their fellow countrymen will sooner than later prove quite untenable.… (more)
First printed in UK this book gives an excellent outline of the history of Saudi Arabia through the ruling family head. Covering the time period from late 1800's to present 2012 this book shows the way the people live and believe as well as the involvement of the British in the Middle East.
A must read for anyone trying to understand the present situation in the Middle East and our dependence on oil from Arabia. Reader will also learn the fundamental religion that drives Saudi Arabia and why they may have been more involved in 9/11 than Americans were lead to believe.
Scholarly in the writing, not a book for a quick read.
Also includes family tree, maps and short glossary.… (more)
A must read for anyone trying to understand the present situation in the Middle East and our dependence on oil from Arabia. Reader will also learn the fundamental religion that drives Saudi Arabia and why they may have been more involved in 9/11 than Americans were lead to believe.
Scholarly in the writing, not a book for a quick read.
Also includes family tree, maps and short glossary.… (more)
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Associated Authors
Statistics
- Works
- 2
- Also by
- 24
- Members
- 74
- Popularity
- #238,154
- Rating
- 3.8
- Reviews
- 3
- ISBNs
- 5
The is a continuation of the same trend we are seeing today which is the founding of a theocratic state with the full blessing of the fanatical wahabbi ulemas. As history has proved that autocratic, socialist states have a very short shelf life and are bound to fail sooner or later because they deny the Individual his funamental right which is freedom of expression.
The same analogy can be drawn here where a very small elite comprised mainly of members of the ruling family are controlling the destiny of more than 25 million of their fellow countrymen will sooner than later prove quite untenable.… (more)