New interpretation of the role of Mehmed Ali Pasha as the founder of modern Egypt. BNS, b/w ill, 352pp, EGYPT. AMERICAN UNIVERSITY IN CAIRO, 9774246969

An account of the desert war between the tanks of the German general Rommel and the forces of Montgomery in Egypt. The Allied win was one of the decisive turning points of the Second World War. Illustrated with b/w photographs. Index, notes, bib, maps, 266pp, UK. AURUM, 1854109294 PB

2003 Paperback

Colourful portrait of the art and architecture of the Copts in early Christian Egypt. BNS, 96 colour illus, 128pp, EGYPT. AMERICAN UNIVERSITY IN CAIRO, 9774246918

A cultural and historical introduction from ancient times to the arrival of Islam. Chapters on ancient times, dynasties, empires, society, daily life, religion, art and architecture, languages, and literature. The book also raises and addresses a number of important interpretive questions, such as the issues of race and colour of the Egyptians, Egypt's relationship with the rest of Africa, and the debate about Egypt's 'legacy'. Index, bib, b/w illus, maps, 245pp, UK. ROUTLEDGE.

A first hand account of Napoleon's ill-fated campaign into Egypt. Details the soldier's impressions and reflections on the country. BNS, 232pp, USA. PRAEGER, 031332512X

A brief but complete history of Egypt from 30,000 BC to 2002. Useful for tourists in the region and as a reference work, it details the events which have shaped the political and cultural character of the country and elaborates on topics ranging from the Great Pyramids to Nasser's revolution. Index, bib, refs, maps, xviii, 437pp, UK. ROUGH GUIDES, 1858289408

2003 Paperback

The author recounts ten years of living in an Egyptian village community and offers a history and travelogue of Egypt from the time of the Crusades to Operation Desert Storm. Notes, 393pp, UK. GRANTA PUBLICATIONS LTD.

A study of the growing impact of the Muslim Brotherhood on Egyptian politics and society, and the movement's struggle to gain legitimacy since its ban in 1954. BNS, 256pp, UK. I B TAURIS.

First biography, since his death in 2006, of Naguib Mahfouz, the Arab world's celebrated novelist and Nobel Prize-winner. 194pp, UK . HAUS PUBLISHING LIMITED.

Now in paperback. A biography of Gamal Abdel Nasser analysing in particular his pan-Arabic ideology and the causes and consequences of the Suez War and the 1967 War. Also examines the contradictions inherent in Nasser's political life and his attempts to reconcile Arab intentions with those of the West and Israel. Index, bib, notes, b/w illus, 355pp, UK. DUCKWORTH.

Examines the life of one of the modern world's key political figures in the context of his turbulent times. Index, bib, b/w photographs, 186pp, UK. HAUS PUBLISHING LTD.

Argues that Britain used gender politics as a contributing argument for continuing their occupation of Egypt. The author describes the relationship between gender, family, political construction and the development of nationhood in Egypt. Index, bib, notes, b/w illus, xiii, 287pp, USA . CALIFORNIA U P.

A history of the idea, the search for support and the completion of the Suez Canal, the greatest engineering feat of the nineteenth century. The author discusses the involvement of Napoleon Bonaparte, Ferdinand de Lesseps, Ismail Pasha, Napoleon the Third, and Lord Palmerston and the political legacies of the canal. Illustrated with b/w images. Index, bib, notes, map, 310pp, UK. MURRAY, JOHN, 0719561604

A personal memoir beginning in Cairo during the 1930s, describing Egyptian life against a backdrop of momentous events from the accession of King Farouk to the Second World War, the revolution of 1952 and the Suez Crisis. The author describes how Egypt has changed during his thirty year absence and recollects a vanished Cairo. Index, notes, b/w illus, ix, 230pp, EGYPT. AMERICAN UNIVERSITY IN CAIRO, 9774248325

In 1956 Egyptian president Gamal Nasser nationalised the Suez Canal. This volume traces the course of subsequent events involving Britain, France and Israel and their subsequent failure to overthrow Nasser. Includes a chronology and a guide for further reading. Illustrated with b/w and colour photographs. Index, 95pp, UK. OSPREY, 1841764183

The story of Jasper Maskelyne, a world famous stage magician of the 1930s who volunteered his unusual skills to the British during the Second World War. He was sent to Egypt where he lead a team of stage hands and camouflage experts and 'disappeared' the entire Suez Canal from the German bombers, created a fake harbour to lure away attackers from Alexandria and conjured up a dummy army in the desert at El Alamein, under the eye of the German Afrika Korps. B/w illus, x, 342pp, UK. CASSELL.

Combing academic research and the author's own personal experiences, this study examines the underlying causes of some of the more disturbing social, political, economic and cultural phenomena that characterize Egyptian society today. Notes, 177pp, EGYPT. AMERICAN UNIVERSITY IN CAIRO, 9774245598

Since 1952 the Egyptian population has increased from 22 million to 69 million. The author takes a inquisitive look at what happens to a society that grows so rapidly and using both academic research and his own personal experiences, describes the profound effect this population explosion has had on Egyptian religion, economy, fashion, television and culture. Sequel to Whatever Happened to the Egyptians? Notes, 189pp, EGYPT. AMERICAN UNIVERSITY IN CAIRO, 9774248198