Abdul Rahman Munif's monumental novel, 'Cities of Salt,' begins with 'The Wilderness' (Al-Tih). This first installment masterfully chronicles the disruption of traditional Bedouin life in a desert oasis following the discovery of oil. The narrative captures the profound social, cultural, and environmental transformations as American prospectors arrive, forever altering the landscape and the lives of its inhabitants. It's a poignant exploration of memory, displacement, and the birth of a new, unsettling world built on newfound wealth, a society disconnected from its roots and traditions.