Brilliant is a collection of short stories set in Abu Dhabi, capital of the United Arab Emirates, a polyglot city where cultures collide and converge, where money ? and sometimes justice ? is no object, where in less than two generations towers have replaced tents. In these stories, a cast of characters ? an Egyptian pastry chef, a Filipina nanny, a Canadian nurse, a lusty French urban planner, a newly destitute British couple, and a cross-dressing Emirati ? navigate this land of sudden plenty, discovering the limits of freedom, money, tolerance and their own good sense. Denise Roig's extraordinary and subtly linked sweep of stories is riveting. She creates a Middle East ? full of heat, traffic, laughter, absurdity, tragedy, poignancy and food ? with insight into human nature and a deft touch with characters. It's a thoroughly nourishing read. ? Anastasia Hobbet, author of Small Kingdoms