Captain Murad is busy planning for the Afterlife.He dreams of a grand, sunlit mausoleum on the banks of the Nile.To realize his pharaonic folly, the retired captain kindles an unlikely romance between Hazem, a feckless architect longing for immortality, and Asma, an impoverished single mother who strives for a better life for her children. As Murad's tomb rises on the riverbank, so Hazem and Asma fall in love.A contemporary Egyptian romance of rare grace and wit, played out by characters trapped in their attitudes toward class and gender.

A finely observed and captivating tale of love and class difference in modern Egypt

About the Author
Award-winning Egyptian novelist Reem Bassiouney is an associate professor at the American University in Cairo, having taught at Cambridge, Oxford, and Utah. She writes widely on gender and linguistics. She lives in Cairo, Egypt. An adjunct professor at the University of Rhode Island, translator Melanie Magidow's research draws on literature and folklore. She lives in New York.

Reviews
"Mortal Designs is a deftly written and truly memorable novel that showcases author Reem Bassiouney's truly impressive storytelling talent. Very highly recommended for personal, community, and academic library Literary Fiction collections."--Library Bookwatch



Book Information
ISBN 9789774167140
Author Reem Bassiouney
Format Paperback
Page Count 252
Imprint The American University in Cairo Press
Publisher The American University in Cairo Press
Weight(grams) 288g
Dimensions(mm) 205mm * 130mm * 18mm