The Sheltering Sky
"The Sheltering Sky" is a novel by Paul Bowles, first published in 1949. The novel follows the story of a couple, Port and Kit Moresby, who travel to North Africa in an attempt to escape the emptiness of their lives in the United States. As they journey further into the desert, they become more and more isolated from the modern world, and are forced to confront their own inner demons and the fragility of their relationship. The novel is known for its portrayal of the psychological and emotional effects of isolation, and its depiction of the cultural and social differences between the Western and Arab worlds. It is considered a classic of modern literature and has been widely praised for its evocative writing and its depiction of the human condition.