For the last two decades Hanif Kureishi has been writing about the rising tensions between Islam and the West-in his essays, as well as works of fiction such as The Black Album and My Son the Fanatic, which was subsequently filmed. Over these twenty years the argument between the East and the West has envolved from one of constructive discussion to one of a refusal to engage-where the bomb speaks louder than the word.This volume contains extracts from Kureishi's work over the past twenty years, as well as the pieces he has recently written in response to the July bombings in London The book also contains a specially written essay in which Kureishi provides a historical perspective for the current conflict.