The Cairo Trilogy is more than just a book; it functions more like a time machine, taking you on a trip of bye gone era. This Cairo is far off from the pyramids and pharaohs you have heard of. This is a city of living, breathing neighbourhoods behind the massive gates & narrow alleyways of the medieval city.
The first book starts with Amina and ends with her husband Al-Sayyid Ahmad. It revolves around their family – it’s members, relations, connections.
This family comprises of five different children, out of which four belong to Amina and the eldest is her stepson. Mild natured, god loving, devil fearing and the most obedient wife & mother that she is, Amina loves all her five children with equal affection.
Both the girls – Aisha and Khalida are very much house bound like their mother till they get married; which in case of Aisha is an opportunity to escape and Khalida to have her own space.
Yasin the eldest is the textbook example of bad parenting; loved but neglected by his own mother for her own interests and detested, almost loathed by his father as he is a reminder of his failed first marriage. Having said that his behaviour with his new family and specially with Amina is always naturally affectionate.
The brothers Fahmy and Kamal both take this first novel forward with their actions and thoughts about religion, family, love and revolution.
The said revolution begins in earnest and their lives change forever. With Kamal befriending English soldiers, Yasin getting stamped as traitor and the family patriarch himself toiling under English rule; all the bad scenarios played out. But the worst comes unexpected and gives a fatal blow to all.
Between maintaining his double lives as a pious, tyrannical patriarch of the family and music, wine lover, womaniser in his social circle; by the end of this first novel we start to see the emotional father in Al-Sayyid Ahmad.
Whereas all the family chooses their individual ways; we see Amina still standing there as a dutiful wife and mother, holding herself and her extended family together.
This novel provides such a fantastic start for the famed Cairo Trilogy; not only it narrates the story of Al-Jawad family but also gives us a glimpse inside the hidden world of walled city of Cairo. This famed fortified city and it’s various landmarks appear sometimes as the main character in the story or they are constantly present in the background providing rich authenticity to the content. So much so that like Amina we also become familiar with the constant hubbub of the Palace Walk.
Recommended read for all the lovers of a good story told all too well.