Cairo Swan Song - Softcover
Cairo, Mother of the World, embraces millions—but some of her children make their home in the streets, junked up and living in the shadows of wealth, among the monuments that the tourists flock to see. Mustafa, a former student radical who never believed in the slogans, sets out to tell their story, but he has to rely on the help of his American girlfriend, Marcia, who he is not sure he can trust. Meanwhile, his former leftist friends are now all either capitalists or Islamists. Alienated from a corrupt and corrupting society, Mustafa watches as the Cairo he cherishes crumbles around him. The men and women of the city struggle to find lovers worthy of their love and causes worthy of their sacrifice in a country that no longer deserves their loyalty. The children of the streets wait for the adults to take notice. And the foreigners can always leave.
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Review:
Mustapha and his circle's lives are, perhaps, too carefully a crafted mosaic of Egypt's educated middle classes, however, given the city's political and social climate, that may be about right. Either way, it seems hard to argue with the air of desperation and resignation Said's characters and prose evoke. (David Goldblatt The Independent 20100219)
'...Cairo Swan Song does hold up a mirror to something very real about the line between art, charity, and profiting off other people’s exotic misery' (M. Lynx Qualey Rain Taxi 20100301)
About the Author:
'...Cairo Swan Song does hold up a mirror to something very real about the line between art, charity, and profiting off other people’s exotic misery' (M. Lynx Qualey Rain Taxi 20100301)
Mekkawi Said was born in Cairo in 1955. His first novel won the Suad Sabbah Arab Creativity Prize in 1991. Cairo Swan Song, his second novel, was shortlisted for the International Prize for Arabic Fiction (the 'Arabic Booker') in 2008.
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- PublisherArabia Books Ltd
- Publication date2010
- ISBN 10 1906697183
- ISBN 13 9781906697181
- BindingPaperback
- Number of pages304
- Rating
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Book Description Paperback. Condition: Very Good. Cairo Swan Song This book is in very good condition and will be shipped within 24 hours of ordering. The cover may have some limited signs of wear but the pages are clean, intact and the spine remains undamaged. This book has clearly been well maintained and looked after thus far. Money back guarantee if you are not satisfied. See all our books here, order more than 1 book and get discounted shipping. Seller Inventory # 7719-9781906697181
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Book Description Paperback. Condition: Very Good. This book is in very good condition and will be shipped within 24 hours of ordering. The cover may have some limited signs of wear but the pages are clean, intact and the spine remains undamaged. This book has clearly been well maintained and looked after thus far. Money back guarantee if you are not satisfied. See all our books here, order more than 1 book and get discounted shipping. Seller Inventory # 6545-9781906697181
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Cairo Swan Song
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Arabia Books Ltd
(2009)
ISBN 10: 1906697183
ISBN 13: 9781906697181
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Book Description Condition: Good. Ships from the UK. Former library book; may include library markings. Used book that is in clean, average condition without any missing pages. Seller Inventory # 39835402-20
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Cairo Swan Song
Published by
Arabia Books Ltd
(2009)
ISBN 10: 1906697183
ISBN 13: 9781906697181
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