Roger Tagholm
The Paris Opera House was in 15th March, the grand setting for the launch of the French editions of three recent titles by His Highness, Dr Sheikh Sultan bin Muhammad al Qasimi, Ruler of Sharjah and Member of the Supreme Council. The titles are Chronicle of a City, The Myth of Arab Piracy in the Gulf and Trade and Power Struggles in the Gulf 1620-1820.
The former Prime Minister of France Jean Pierre Raffarin gave the keynote address in which he listed His Highness’ many achievements, such as Sharjah being nominated UNESCO World Book Capital 2019 and His Highness then made a short speech and signed copies of his books.
Guests loved looking at the fabulous architecture of the Opera House which combines Baroque, classical and Renaissance styles. It was a very appropriate venue for a booklover such as His Highness because the building is the setting for one of the world’s most famous novels, Gaston Leroux’s 1910 novel The Phantom of the Opera. Some of the original 1925 silent film of the novel was also shot here.