A literary, social and political portrait of Alexandria during the first half of the twentieth century. The author draws on diaries, letters and interviews to explore the city's unique communities, highlighting the social and political changes over the decades that led to Nasser's Egypt. Haag also describes the relationship of writers Lawrence Durrell, E.M. Forster and Constantine Cavafy to the city and their contribution to its literary life. Index, notes, maps, xiv, 368pp, USA. YALE UNIVERSITY PRESS, 0300104154

The highlights of the ancient cities of Cairo and Luxor are presented in a concise format, with fold out maps and a directory of places to stay, eat and shop. Includes travel tips and details of excursions further afield. Index, 96pp, UK. NEW HOLLAND, 1843305356

Cadogan takes the Classic Egypt Tour from exuberant Cairo and the Pyramids at Giza and Saqqara, down the Nile to the temples of Abydos and Dendera, to Luxor and its astonishing wealth of age old temples and magnificent tombs, then to Karnak and the Necropolis of Thebes, and, finally, on to dreamy, relaxed, timeless Aswan. Maps and plans throughout. Index, bib, gloss, 352pp, UK. CADOGAN GUIDES.

Beginning at Cleopatra's Needle on the Thames embankment and ending at the original site of the monument in Heliopolis in Egypt, the author travels by bike along the water ways of Europe, through France, Germany and the Middle Eastern countries of Syria and Lebanon. Index, map, apps, b/w illus, 248pp, UK, 1852279842

A pocket sized guide to Egypt, describing where to go and what to do from the Mediterranean Coast to Lake Nasser and the Red Sea. Includes a brief history of the country and guides for shopping and bargaining, eating out and accommodation. Illustrated with colour photographs and maps. Index, 144pp, UK. BERLITZ PUBLISHING CO, 9812465162

A lavishly illustrated guide book with over 1000 photographs, illustrations and maps, cutaways and floor plans of the major sites, and 3 D aerial views of Cairo's most interesting districts. Includes the usual travel advice, information and listing for accommodation, safety, shopping and eating. Index, 352pp, UK. DORLING KINDERSLEY, 0751368725

Combines a travel guide and pull-out travel map (scale 1: 2 000 000) in a convenient and durable plastic wallet. The handy Travel Guides are crammed with useful information, travel tips and recommendations for the traveller. Favouring essential and practical travel data over extended essays, their clearly presented, easy-to-carry format is both attractive and practical. Col illus throughout, bib, 128pp, UK. NEW HOLLAND.

8th edition of this popular travel guide. Contains all usual information on travel, language, health and accommodation. Also provides information on cruises along the Nile and diving in the Red Sea, Pharaonic Egypt, and the major cities and countryside excursions. Illustrated with detailed maps and colour photographs. Index, Index, gloss, 588pp, UK. LONELY PLANET.

A business and travel guide listing business resources in Egypt. Includes chapters on the country's economy and its top companies, agriculture, energy, finance, industry and trade, and tourism. Illustrated with colour images. Bib, maps, 255pp, SPAIN. EBIZ GUIDES.

Sixth edition of this comprehensive guide, with practical information, informed discussion of Egyptian culture, past and present, and evocative descriptions of the great landscapes, from the Nile valley to the Sinai coast and the oases of the Western Desert. This edition includes colour maps and illustrations and a guide to the unmissable attractions. Index, maps, gloss, xxiv, 888pp, UK. ROUGH GUIDES.

A comprehensive field guide to every mammal species recorded in contemporary Egypt. Each mammal species is described in detail, with reference to identification features, status, habitat and habits. Illustrated with b/w and colour images. BNS, 352pp, EGYPT. AMERICAN UNIVERSITY IN CAIRO, 9774248090

Updated fourth edition. A practical guide to below the surface of the Red Sea for divers and snorkellers, with detailed information on the best places to visit, access points and facilities. With many spectacular colour photographs of marine life. Countries profiled are Eritrea, The Sudan, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Jordan and Israel. Index, bib, 173pp, UK. NEW HOLLAND, 1843308533

The English scholar and explorer Leo Arthur Tregenza arrived in Egypt in 1927 as a school teacher, and remained there until the 1952 Revolution. Tregenza describes a country in which the waters of the Nile still flooded and the Bedouin practiced a thousand year old way of life. BNS, 490pp, EGYPT. AMERICAN UNIVERSITY IN CAIRO.

An anthology of travel writing about Egypt arranged by geographical areas. Writers collected here range from Herodotus to Florence Nightingale. Includes brief biographies of the travellers. Index, bib, b/w illus, 255pp, EGYPT. AMERICAN UNIVERSITY IN CAIRO, 9774248015

Demonstrates the influence of nineteenth century European travellers on Egyptology. BNS, 352pp, UK. TAURIS, I B, 1860646743