“Oil pipelines are the Silk Roads of the 20th century if you look at the huge amount of infrastructure in oil”, observed renowned author and historian Peter Frankopan during his talk “The Silk Roads: Weaving history through fiction and non-fiction” at the 43rd Sharjah International Book Fair (SIBF).
Referring to the UAE and the Gulf region, he said the part of the reason for the growth of this part of the world was not just because of fossil fuels, but the infrastructure that came with it.
The British author and Professor of History discussed the various events that shaped his writing. “My generation was deeply affected by the Cold War,” he stated, discussing the effect of events like the Chernobyl nuclear accident and the wars in Iraq.
“History is like writing novels,” he explained, emphasising that to narrate history, one must understand science, migration, and environmental changes, among other factors.
Frankopan shared his passion for uncovering ancient records, including writings about sandstorms from 1400s scholars in cities like Aleppo and Baghdad. Writing The Silk Roads and The Earth Transformed took him 40 years, sustained by “a happy home life and lots of Nespresso.” He avoided research teams, preferring the authenticity of his own work.
“Young people find fiction more inspiring, as they engage with it early,” he observed, adding, “knowledge is something you can sell.” After the talk, Frankopan held a book signing.
SIBF 2024, open until November 17, hosts over 2,520 publishers from 112 countries, with Morocco as Guest of Honour. The 12-day event, themed “It Starts with a Book,” offers 1,357 events and activities for all ages.