Reviews

A French novelist and author of a French dictionary of Egyptian gods, Blottiere has constructed a unique book that revisits life in Cairo and Alexandria during the first half of the 20th century, primarily from the perspective of steamship travelers. It discusses the social atmosphere of the region during a time when the British still influenced the Egyptian government and a European privileged class thrived with little regard for the peasant masses. The book presents large reproductions (20 color, 124 b&w) of archived photographs depicting the activities of tourists, including images of luxury liners, hotels, regional cinema, and travelers climbing the pyramids. Using many quotations from travelers both anonymous and well known (e.g., Jean Cocteau, Rudyard Kipling), the author is successful in re-creating the high-class social climate in Cairo and Alexandria during this time. Unfortunately, his brief and sketchy discussions of the related political background are not sufficient for readers interested in this unusual topic. Nevertheless, this book is recommended as a pictorial work for large public libraries.-Eric Linderman, East Cleveland P.L., OH Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information.