Halima And The Scorpions 1905

"Halima And The Scorpions" by Robert Hichens is a novel written in the early 20th century. Set against the backdrop of the Sahara Desert, it explores themes of magic, superstition, and cultural conflicts through the journey of Halima, a beautiful dancing-girl. The narrative delves into her possession of a hedgehog's foot, purportedly blessed with miraculous properties by a renowned marabout, which ignites envy and scandal in her city of Touggourt. The story follows Halima as she displays the magical hedgehog's foot, drawing envy and ire, particularly from Ben-Abid, a singer who challenges her claim of invincibility. In a dramatic encounter, he produces scorpions to test her belief in the foot's protective powers, ultimately leading to Halima's tragic demise during a dance performance. The narrative intricately weaves the motifs of fate, pride, and the superstitions prevalent in the cultural fabric of the desert, culminating in a poignant reflection on the consequences of belief and societal expectations. (This is an automatically generated summary.)

Robert Smythe Hichens was an English journalist, novelist, music lyricist, short story writer, music critic and collaborated on successful plays. He is best remembered as a satirist of the "Naughty Nineties".