Books from Egypt
Writing from Egypt draws on a long literary heritage and on the daily life of its cities and villages. The books here include novels, poetry, a thriller and memoirs. They explore family, faith, politics and memory across modern Egyptian history.
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Contemporary Fiction
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Midaq Alley by Naguib Mahfouz
A novel set in a narrow Cairo alley, following the residents whose lives intertwine in a poor neighbourhood.
- The Cairo Trilogy by Naguib Mahfouz. A family saga that follows three generations of a Cairo merchant family through the early twentieth century.
- The Yacoubian Building by Alaa Al Aswany. A novel set in a downtown Cairo apartment block, tracing the lives of its diverse residents.
Mystery & Thriller
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Vertigo by Ahmed Mourad
A thriller about a man whose life unravels as he becomes entangled in a web of secrets and danger.
Sci-Fi & Fantasy
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The Queue by Basma Abdel Aziz
A dystopian novel about citizens waiting in an endless queue outside a mysterious government authority.
Poetry
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The Poem of the Way by Ibn al-Farid
A long mystical poem by a celebrated Sufi poet, exploring divine love and spiritual union.
Memoir & Nonfiction
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Cairo: My City, Our Revolution by Ahdaf Soueif
A memoir that blends personal history with an account of the 2011 uprising in Cairo.
- Out of Egypt by André Aciman. A memoir about a boyhood in Alexandria and a family's departure from Egypt.
How we choose
These lists start from books Atlas Unread readers can stamp for Egypt. Each title and author is confirmed against Wikidata, Wikipedia or library records before it is listed.