Book discussion focuses on critical era

Manama: The story of Erhama Bin Jaber, a historical character feared and hunted as a brigand by the British but celebrated as a folk hero in the Gulf, came alive when Qatar National Library (QNL) organised its first book discussion event to mark International Literacy Day.

Erhama’s life was used as the basis for “The Corsair”, a thrilling and engaging novel set in the early 19th century during one of the most important periods of history in the Arabian Gulf. The backdrop is the brutal struggle between the British Empire and the Arab tribes of the Gulf for control of the area.

The novel was authored by Abdul Aziz Al Mahmoud, a local Qatari engineer and journalist who previously worked as editor-in-chief of Al Sharq and The Peninsula newspapers as well as Aljazeera.net.

Members of Qatar Foundation, the general public, QNL-registered members and librarians in Qatar attended the gathering to discuss the novel. The event was the latest in an active year for QNL as it has taken a local, regional and international role by hosting community events in Qatar, conducting regional workshops and forging high-level international partnerships.

“Qatar National Library is an active member of the community and a vital part of the infrastructure in Qatar’s knowledge economy, empowering people to unlock their potential by providing tools for lifelong learning,” Claudia Lux, Project Director of Qatar National Library, said in remarks e-mailed to Gulf News.

QNL said that following the success of the book discussion event, it is planning similar events in the future.