E. M. Hull 
The Sheik 
A Novel

E. M. Hull’s groundbreaking novel, ‘The Sheik, ‘ is a classic work of early 20th-century literature that delves into themes of desire, captivity, and exoticism. The novel tells the story of a headstrong English woman who is kidnapped by a powerful Arab sheik and taken to his desert oasis. Written in a captivating and suspenseful style, ‘The Sheik’ captures the tension between the Western and Eastern worlds, exploring cultural differences and the complexities of human relationships. Hull’s vivid descriptions and rich character development make this novel a compelling read for anyone interested in exploring the nuances of gender, power, and identity in a colonial setting. Hailed as a pioneering work of feminist literature, ‘The Sheik’ challenges traditional gender roles and offers a thought-provoking glimpse into the complexities of desire and autonomy. I highly recommend ‘The Sheik’ to readers who enjoy thought-provoking and emotionally resonant literature that pushes boundaries and challenges societal norms.

About the author

Edith Maud Hull (1880–1947), known widely by her pen name E. M. Hull, was an English novelist of the early 20th century. She is best remembered for her romantic novel ‘The Sheik’ (1919), which became an international bestseller and was later adapted into a silent film in 1921 starring Rudolph Valentino. Hull’s novel was significant for its time, as it exemplified the shift in romantic fiction towards more exotic and adventurous settings. ‘The Sheik’ tells the story of an English aristocrat who is abducted by a powerful sheikh and is central to the genre that would later be known as desert romance. Although the literary merits of ‘The Sheik’ have been contested, its popularity was undeniable, and it played a substantial role in shaping Western perceptions of the East and the desert romance sub-genre. Hull’s writing was characterized by vivid descriptions, emotional intensity, and the depiction of the untamed aspects of desire, which resonated deeply with her contemporaries. Despite ‘The Sheik’ being Hull’s most famous work, she wrote several other novels, although none achieved the same level of fame. Her literary contributions, however, have helped to define an era of romance literature, setting a template for many works that followed in the wake of her bestselling novel.