The Garden of Allah

"The Garden of Allah" by Robert Hichens is a tale of self-discovery set in the vast Sahara Desert. Domini Enfilden, a strong and independent English woman, leaves her old life behind to seek meaning and a deeper connection to herself in Beni-Mora, a tranquil oasis. Haunted by her parents’ troubled relationship and grappling with her own beliefs, she journeys from England and arrives in Africa seeking peace and a sense of belonging. The novel opens with Domini's arrival after a challenging sea journey from England, capturing her first impressions of Africa and presenting her initial unease and desire for something different. Battling past memories, especially her mother’s choices and her father’s pessimism, she hopes to start anew in the unfamiliar landscape. Domini’s quest for freedom and her experience of love and loss in a place of stark beauty and spiritual power make this journey a transformative exploration of faith and the depths of the human desire for self-knowledge.