Dost Publishing
Independent Publisher, Independent Writing
Welcome to Dost Publishing
I established Dost Publishing to bring my work to light as an independent author and scholar. By collaborating with elite editorial services and expert readers, I ensure that every book meets the highest standards of rigor, accuracy, and quality, all while maintaining total creative control.
These books were written out of a genuine love for their subjects. Whether diving into the high-stakes world of imperial archaeology, uncovering the hidden histories of early blues pioneers, or weaving rich historical adventures, my goal is to produce deeply engaging, beautifully crafted literature. I hope that passion resonates with you on every page.
Welcome, and happy reading. Matthew Ismail
Explore the Catalog:
Wallis Budge: Magic and Mummies in London and Cairo (Revised Edition, 2021)
Smuggler. Knight. Scholar. Occultist. Sir E.A. Wallis Budge is celebrated today as the translator behind The Egyptian Book of the Dead. But behind his academic veneer lies a thrilling, aggressive climb to power. Born into poverty and illegitimacy in rural Cornwall, Budge shattered Victorian class barriers to become the British Museum's Keeper of Egyptian and Assyrian Antiquities. Navigating the fierce imperialist struggles between the British, French, and Ottoman Empires, Budge’s life was entirely consumed by the gripping intersection of history, occult beliefs, and international antiquities smuggling.
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Blues Discovery: Reaching Across the Divide (2nd Revised Edition)
"We were basically chasing sounds, you know? We were going after what we dug. We weren't thinking of trends or movements, revivals . . . We couldn't get enough of the records... and when we found out that you can hear it in the flesh, we couldn't get enough of that."
The music that shaped a century, and the bridges built to find it. In an era defined by the rigid dictates of segregation, a handful of passionate Americans chose to follow a sound across the color line. Blues Discovery chronicles the remarkable odysseys of collectors and historians like Roger Brown, George Mitchell, and Samuel B. Charters as they sought out foundational bluesmen like Robert Johnson, Will Shade, and Furry Lewis. Driven by a pure love of the music, this book is a profoundly moving story of humane values, cultural courage, and musical genius.
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Lord of Light: A Novel of Historical Adventure
"A collector, Mr. Wilkinson, is always collecting. This is the nature of the beast."
Where meticulous history meets sweeping imagination. When a rare, smuggled statue of the Pharaoh Akhenaten is stolen from a London gallery, the daring adventurer Hugh Wilkinson is hired to track it down. What follows is a high-stakes hunt for fortune that plunges him into a web of international deception. Set between the two World Wars, Lord of Light is a gripping tale of romance and intrigue that sweeps through London, Paris, Cairo, and Istanbul, seamlessly blending rich historical accuracy with a classic, fast-paced adventure.
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