Description
Book SynopsisA monumental family saga that offers a vivid portrait of Egypt's Mamluk period, one that is at both sweeping in scope and intimate in detail. Set in medieval Cairo, the novel centers on three generations of Egyptians, foreign-born Mamluks, and their descendants as their trials and victories mirror those of their turbulent country.
Trade ReviewWinner of the Naguib Mahfouz Prize for Literature
"Like Mahfouz’s Palace Walk trilogy, Bassiouney’s single-volume trilogy unfolds the intimate connection between sexual politics and political life at large through an engrossing panorama across a series of interlocking stories." - David Damrosch, Harvard University
"The novel raises questions about loyalty and treachery, victory and defeat, mortality and immortality, and all are within the framework of a quest for elusive truth." - Nazek Fahmy,
Al-Ahram"A masterful, multi-generational epic….Bassiouney brings the past to life through diverse characters, including and especially women." - Melanie Magidow, translator of
Mortal Designs
