Reading For The Road: Books About Jordan

A thrilling narrative about the Arab Revolt against the Turks, this classic tale reveals how the Middle East was forever changed during World War I, focusing on a young military officer who was torn between two nations. Lawrence of Arabia was written after four years of intensive document research and captures the action and intensity of the Middle East in the 20th c. It’s a classic story, but I won’t turn a blind eye if you’ve just seen the movie!

Speaking of movies, some of the world’s most beautiful films were shot in the tiny kingdom of Jordan—and for good reason. With its otherworldly desert landscape, the Wadi Rum can easily be mistaken for Mars. Director Ridley Scott fell in love with its moonlight granite rocks on a trip to Jordan, and it later became his film set of choice for many movies including The Martian, Prometheus and Kingdom of Heaven (I always recommend the directors cut!). 

Everyone who visits the Wadi Rum will completely understand what Lawrence of Arabia meant when he used ‘vast, echoing and God-like’ to describe the place, used as the backdrop when Anthony Quinn when rides into the UNESCO Site. When B&R visits Jordan, travellers can literally walk in the footsteps of Lawrence of Arabia—passing Bedouin communities and incredible food stands along the way.

In Rogue One: A Star Wars Story Gareth Edwards chose Wadi Rum as a stand-in for Jedha, a desert moon that orbits the planet of NaJedha. The iconic sandy landscape can also be seen in Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker.