Product Description

This is an account of life, attitudes and events in Cairo during World War II. It describes the historical background of the events of the Desert War, as well as stories and descriptions of personalities gleaned from the Ambassador's diaries and those of her grandparents, Duff and Diana Cooper.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #607070 in Books
• Published on: 1998-02-14
• Original language: English
• Binding: Paperback
• 384 pages

Customer Reviews

A gripping survey of a fascinating period
I'm surprised no-one has written a review of Artemis Cooper's book before this. It's the only connected survey of this fascinating period, with details on just about everything from King Farouk and the formidable Princess Shevekiar to the British army and the Berka (the infamous red light district). There's also plenty on Pastroudi's and the famous Shepheard's hotel. If you've read Olivia Manning or seen The English Patient, this will paint the broader picture. The remarkable thing about this book is the cast of hundreds of British visitors during the war, from writers to entertainers (like No‘l Coward) and, of course, Winston Churchill. It's the sort of non-fiction work that you find you can't put down.