A blend of memoir, history, and travelogue exploring the ancient Egyptian city on the eve of the Arab Spring. Blending aspects of memoir, history, and travel narrative into an elegant and unique tapestry, Peter Stothard uses the sights and sounds of the ancient city to reconnect with the experiences that shaped him and sparked a passionate interest in the life of Cleopatra. Melancholy, yet often humorous, Alexandria probingly deconstructs the enigma of modern Egypt-with its uneasy mix of classical touchstones and increasingly volatile Middle Eastern politics-and offers a firsthand glimpse into the fracturing state just before the Tahrir Square uprising and the start of the Arab Spring. Includes photographs

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