[SAUDI ARABIA] Modern Saudi Arabia

SPARROW, JUDGE GERALD (1903-1988).

Knightly Vernon Limited, London, 1970.

Original green cloth with green dust jacket. Roy. 8vo. (24 x 16 cm). In English. viii, 124, [1] p., 8 unnumbered photographic b/w plates and one folded organization chart [of] the Saudi Arabian government. Light shelf wear on the lower edge, else a fine copy.  

The first and only edition of this scarce book focusing on the remarkable progress achieved, primarily over the past five years, under His Majesty King Faisal, highlighting the modernization of Saudi Arabia. The book was written by Sparrow, a British lawyer, judge, and travel writer, on "that the evolution and extremely rapid progress of the one unique Muslim state, Saudi Arabia, has been and is being achieved within the framework of Islam and indeed sustained and fortified by the Islamic way of life."

This illustrated first-hand account contends that what sets Saudi Arabia apart from other Arab states is its ability to modernize without compromising Islamic faith. While neighbouring countries adopt modern technology at the cost of religious observance, Saudi Arabia maintains strict adherence to Islamic practices. 

John Walter Gerald Sparrow was a British lawyer, judge, and travel writer. He served on the International Court in Bangkok, Thailand, for over 20 years. He was the president of the Club of Ten, a pro-apartheid organization whose members included South African, British, and American businessmen. He was the author of over 40 books. 

Chapters: The living past, The new Saudi Arabia, The King, The structure of government, Commerce and industry, Oil and minerals, Education, Health, Pilgrimage, Social life and agriculture, Saudi Arabia and the world, the summing-up. Appendices: Saudi government structure, Islamic law and the problems of today. The list of illustrations: King Faisal’s portrait on the frontispiece, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Jeddah; Jeddah: New and old buildings; Riyadh: School sports meeting; A public library; Airport: Dahran; The control room at the Petromin Oil Refinery, Jeddah.

As of May 2025, OCLC lists nineteen copies, most of which are located in the UK libraries; only three US libraries hold this book: Emory University, Duke University Libraries, and Temple University Libraries.