The Gabriel Hounds [antikvár]

AUTHOR'S NOTEThis story is freely based on the accounts of the life of theLady Hester Stanhope. I have tried to shorten my referencesas much as possible, but for those who are interested, the listof books on page 59 will act as a guide and also an acknowl-edgment of my main sources. My debt to Doughty's Travelsin Arabia Deserta, and also to Robin Fedden's marvellousSyria and Lebanon (John Murray) will be more than obvious.One other word may perhaps be necessary. In a story of thissort it is inevitable that officials are mentioned by office, ifnot by name. Any references to Government bodies, CabinetMinisters, frontier officials, etc., are made purely for thepurposes of this story, and do not refer to any actual holdersof these offices, living or dead. Moreover, though the AdonisValley certainly exists, the Nahr el-SaFqwith the village andthe palace of Dar Ibrahimdoes not.I should also like to thank all those friends, from Edinburghto Damascus, who have given me so much generous help.M. S.