The Sheik is a 1919 novel by English writer E. M. Hull. It was the first of a series of novels she wrote with desert settings that set off a major revival of the "desert romance" genre of romantic fiction. It was a huge best-seller and the most popular of her books, and it served as the basis for the film of the same name starring the Italian actor Rudolph Valentino in the title role.Edith Maud Hull (16 August 1880 – 11 February 1947) was a British writer of romance novels, typically credited as E. M. Hull. She is best known for The Sheik, which became an international best seller in 1921. The Sheik is credited with beginning a revival of the "desert romance" genre of romantic fiction. Hull followed The Sheik with several other novels with desert settings, such as The Shadow of the East, The Desert Healer, and The Sons of the Sheik.

The beautiful young British traveler Diana Mayo is on a trek through the Algerian desert when she is kidnapped by Sheik Ahmed Ben-Hassan, who forces her into submission. What follows is a tale of mystery, power and forbidden love fulfilled. E. M. Hull"s The Sheik is the first and greatest of romance novels.

Diana Mayo is young, beautiful, wealthy, and independent. Bored by the eligible bachelors and endless parties of the English aristocrats, she arranges for a trek through the Algerian desert. Two days into the her adventure, she is kidnapped by the powerful Sheik Ahmed Ben-Hassan, who forces her into submission. Diana tries desperately to resist but finds herself falling in love with the dark and handsome stranger. What follows is a tale of mystery, power, and forbidden love fulfilled.