In Maskad, Tariq al Mandhari offers readers a journey across time, where Oman’s rich history intersects with human emotion. Far from a conventional historical novel, it immerses readers in late 19th-century Oman, a period of profound shifts following Sultan Said bin Sultan’s death and about the empire between its African and Arabian domains.
The novel opens at a pivotal moment in Oman’s history and skillfully moves back in time, revealing the causes and consequences of these transformations.
Through a vivid cast of characters — from historical figures like Saleh bin Ali al Harthy, Shaikh Said bin Khalfan al Khalili and Imam Azan bin Qais, to the everyman Amer bin Jumaa — readers experience the aspirations, struggles and resilience of Omanis navigating a changing world.
What sets Maskad apart is how it brings history to life. The multi-voiced narrative allows each chapter to serve as a window into a character’s world, creating a mosaic that portrays Oman before it became a modern state.
From Suhar to Al Rustaq and from Maskad to Al Buraimi, readers are not just observers — they are participants in the nation’s evolution, feeling the politics, ambitions and intimate human moments that shaped its course.
Critics and readers alike have praised the novel for balancing historical depth with emotional resonance. Maskad is more than a recounting of events; it is a story of courage, loss, loyalty and hope, connecting the past and present.
For anyone seeking to understand Oman’s identity and heritage, it is a literary journey well worth taking.
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