Justin Marozzi

Tall tales of the Golden East: the fabulous fabrications of two 20th-century con artists

Capitalising on his Afghan-Indian heritage, Ikbal Shah claimed to have crucial inside knowledge of Central Asia, while his son Idries later purveyed a rebranded Sufism for the West

Idries Shah. [Shutterstock]
  • Comments

  • Empire’s Son, Empire’s Orphan: The Fantastical Lives of Ikbal and Idries Shah

    Nile Green

    Norton, pp. 368, £22

Already a subscriber? Log in

This article is for subscribers only

Subscribe today to get 3 months' delivery of the magazine, as well as online and app access, for only £3.

  • Weekly delivery of the magazine
  • Unlimited access to our website and app
  • Enjoy Spectator newsletters and podcasts
  • Explore our online archive, going back to 1828

Read next

Because you read about afghanistan

Also by Justin Marozzi

Latest

Comments

Join the debate for just $5 for 3 months

Be part of the conversation with other Spectator readers by getting your first three months for $5.

Already a subscriber? Log in