by Allen Drury
First published 1980
The ancient land of Egypt becomes a stage for contemporary political maneuvering in Allen Drury's 1980 novel. Set against the backdrop of Cairo and the Nile Valley, the story follows American diplomats and Egyptian officials as they navigate the treacherous waters of Middle Eastern politics during a time of regional upheaval. Cultural tensions simmer beneath formal diplomatic exchanges as East meets West in boardrooms and back channels. Personal relationships become entangled with national interests when romantic attachments cross cultural boundaries. The protagonist must choose between professional duty and personal conviction as international crisis threatens to spiral beyond control. At its heart, this is a story about individuals caught between worlds, struggling to maintain their humanity while serving larger political forces.
Genres: american-fiction, historical-fiction, 20th-century, middle-east, political-thriller, africa
Vibes: suspenseful, thought-provoking
Tropes: fish-out-of-water, personal-vs-professional
Setting: Cairo, Egypt, Nile Valley
Period: 1980
272 pages · Hardcover · Doubleday