A Hologram for the King is a novel by Dave Eggers that blends parable with contemporary realism to explore themes of economic failure, cultural dislocation, and personal redemption. The story follows Alan Clay, a struggling American businessman who travels to Saudi Arabia to pitch a holographic teleconferencing system to the king. Facing bureaucratic delays, a crumbling career, and a mysterious health scare, Alan’s journey becomes one of self-reckoning. Amid the desert uncertainty, he forges unexpected human connections—particularly with Zahra, a compassionate Saudi doctor. Ultimately, Alan chooses not to return home a failure but to begin anew in a foreign land, chasing hope over despair.
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