Five Books’ interviews on Egypt cover everything from Tutankhamun to Tahrir Square.
Egyptologists Toby Wilkinson and Elizabeth Frood offer their choices for the best books on Ancient Egypt. Diane Greco Josefowicz talks about French interest in Ancient Egypt in the early 19th century with her best books on French “Egyptomania”.
Philip Mansel, with his best books on the Levant and Dan Morrison with his best books on The Nile, take a look at aspects of Egypt in its broader, geographical and cultural context. Egypt’s relationship with the wider Arab world is discussed by Issandr El Amrani in his best books on understanding the Arab world and by Tarek Osman on the same theme.
The origins, evolution and consequences of the Arab Spring and Egypt’s role in it are discussed by professor Marc Lynch in his five books on the origins of the Arab uprising and are touched on by David Cortright in his books on non-military solutions to political conflict. The relationship between the US and modern Egypt is discussed by Lloyd Gardner in his interview on Egypt and America.
Many of these interviews touch on the role of Islam in contemporary Egyptian society. Malise Ruthven, with her best books on Islamism and Ziauddin Sardar with his best books on the future of Islam and Turi Munthe with his best books on Islam and Modernity focus on this directly.
Humphrey Davies chooses his five best books of contemporary Egyptian literature and Denise Hamilton touches on the Egyptian influence on the evolution of perfume.
