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Last Days of the Pharaoh
Two days before the collapse of Hosni Mubarak's regime in Egypt, one man gathered the courage to tell the president the he would be killed in his palace if he did not step down. What came next revealed the bitter power struggles atop the most populous country in the Middle East at its most vulnerable moment in six decades.
But it was too late. As street protests swelled into the hundreds of thousands across the country, decision-making at the highest levels broke down and Mubarak fled to the resort city of Sharm el Sheikh.
This is the inside story of the final days of Egypt's modern-day pharaoh, who ruled with near autocratic powers for three decades before being forced to resign on February 11, 2011.
Cairo-based journalist Bradley Hope interviewed more than two dozen eyewitnesses, from current and former officials to Mubarak's long-time make-up artist, to tell the dramatic story of the president's downfall.
But it was too late. As street protests swelled into the hundreds of thousands across the country, decision-making at the highest levels broke down and Mubarak fled to the resort city of Sharm el Sheikh.
This is the inside story of the final days of Egypt's modern-day pharaoh, who ruled with near autocratic powers for three decades before being forced to resign on February 11, 2011.
Cairo-based journalist Bradley Hope interviewed more than two dozen eyewitnesses, from current and former officials to Mubarak's long-time make-up artist, to tell the dramatic story of the president's downfall.
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First published August 1, 2012
About the author
Bradley Hope
19 books156 followersBradley Hope, based in London, is the New York Times bestselling co-author of Billion Dollar Whale and Blood and Oil. He is a Pulitzer Prize finalist and Gerald Loeb Award winner. Formerly a reporter for The Wall Street Journal and a correspondent in the Middle East, Hope is co-founder of Project Brazen, a journalism studio and production company.
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
June 2, 2024
كتاب قصير استمعت له صوتيا حول محمد حسني مبارك
August 31, 2012
Recommended by a relative who's a journalist in the Middle East, this free Kindle essay is an involving account of the fall of Egypt's President Mubarak.
These days I follow very little news and off the top of my head I could only recall that there were many demonstrations in Tahrir Square and that Mubarak had gone, probably some time last year.
From this standpoint The Last Pharaoh* is a useful and readable report with a brief history of modern Egyptian politics and detail about the internal machinations of government as Mubarak fell in early 2011. (As the author says at the end, the protestors' side has been covered comprehensively elsewhere.)
For the aficionado, the essay has the attraction of several scoop interviews with former Mubarak ministers and aides, whose accounts are the buttresses of the story.
Whilst it often has that journalistic tone of overblown spine-tingling fatedness that may as well have the Star Wars theme playing in the background, this is part of the momentum of Bradley Hope's piece, which makes it a very easy read even for those who find many political stories a chore. He may not be as original a writer as Michael Lewis, but Hope has a similar talent for creating excitement about a subject frequently regarded as dry and impenetrable.
At the beginning it's suggested to Mubarak that he could face the same fate as Ceaucescu if he doesn't implement some change himself; remembering the Eastern European communist governments falling like skittles in those late-80's days of chaos and hope makes it easier to understand the apparently naive optimism attached to some commentary on the Arab Spring. I look with wary cynical eyes at a description of Mubarak as "the last pharaoh" - after all we didn't think the likes of Putin and Lukashenko would be ruling as they do in 2012. But of course some countries have made a pretty good go of things, 20+ years after overthrowing dictatorships.
* Pharaoh is quite tricky to spell, and I don’t think I’ve attempted it since school. It still feels like the second a and the o should be the other way round. [O and A and A and O, Cantemus in choro ...]
These days I follow very little news and off the top of my head I could only recall that there were many demonstrations in Tahrir Square and that Mubarak had gone, probably some time last year.
From this standpoint The Last Pharaoh* is a useful and readable report with a brief history of modern Egyptian politics and detail about the internal machinations of government as Mubarak fell in early 2011. (As the author says at the end, the protestors' side has been covered comprehensively elsewhere.)
For the aficionado, the essay has the attraction of several scoop interviews with former Mubarak ministers and aides, whose accounts are the buttresses of the story.
Whilst it often has that journalistic tone of overblown spine-tingling fatedness that may as well have the Star Wars theme playing in the background, this is part of the momentum of Bradley Hope's piece, which makes it a very easy read even for those who find many political stories a chore. He may not be as original a writer as Michael Lewis, but Hope has a similar talent for creating excitement about a subject frequently regarded as dry and impenetrable.
At the beginning it's suggested to Mubarak that he could face the same fate as Ceaucescu if he doesn't implement some change himself; remembering the Eastern European communist governments falling like skittles in those late-80's days of chaos and hope makes it easier to understand the apparently naive optimism attached to some commentary on the Arab Spring. I look with wary cynical eyes at a description of Mubarak as "the last pharaoh" - after all we didn't think the likes of Putin and Lukashenko would be ruling as they do in 2012. But of course some countries have made a pretty good go of things, 20+ years after overthrowing dictatorships.
* Pharaoh is quite tricky to spell, and I don’t think I’ve attempted it since school. It still feels like the second a and the o should be the other way round. [O and A and A and O, Cantemus in choro ...]
September 6, 2012
A look behind the scene during the last days of Mubarak's 30 years of rule over Egypt. It's a good story, and the author does a good job reporting. However, it seems to have be put together in a hurry, I found two obvious errors in the book. The author was quick to correct them after my email to him. It's an ebook release, so the author can make changes easily. Good read.
September 1, 2019
Poor man! No insight into the dynamics & covert manipulations
Mr. Mubarak was used. Very sad, and then to be ousted by the Muslim Brotherhood; what a nightmare for Egypt.
The book mentions an enormous climb in birth rate! How can you build a stable prosperous country when basic problems like Overpopulation are not addressed? Chronic unemployment, flooded labor markets and angry dissatisfied men become tools for opportunistic manipulators from Leftist Authoritarian parties and radical Islamists. These factors are obvious & fixable, given the willingness to tackle uncomfortable self reflection..
Mr. Mubarak was used. Very sad, and then to be ousted by the Muslim Brotherhood; what a nightmare for Egypt.
The book mentions an enormous climb in birth rate! How can you build a stable prosperous country when basic problems like Overpopulation are not addressed? Chronic unemployment, flooded labor markets and angry dissatisfied men become tools for opportunistic manipulators from Leftist Authoritarian parties and radical Islamists. These factors are obvious & fixable, given the willingness to tackle uncomfortable self reflection..
February 9, 2025
Last Days of the Pharaoh by Bradley Hope. The book discusses the last days of Hosni Mubarak in Egypt. He stepped down around the time Tunisia fell with threats he might be killed if he didn't. He went to prison and died there.
December 10, 2017
Window into a revolution
Good window into a revolution of a new kind. A social network fueled one that ultimately failed. How is Egypt of today different then Mubarak's?
Good window into a revolution of a new kind. A social network fueled one that ultimately failed. How is Egypt of today different then Mubarak's?
November 28, 2022
!xo
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 18, 2013
I did enjoy reading this concise book. It is written by US reporter Bradley Hope and it is based on several interviews with prominent Egyptian officials who worked during Mubarak's era like Hossam Badrawy and Ali El Din Helal. It also includes interviews with Mohamed Ashoub, Mubarak's famous make-up artist and a US ambassador to Egypt during the 90s.
Hope's style is very engaging and she brilliantly weaves the stories told by her interviewees with accurate observations of the Egyptian social and political environment before and during the 18-day revolution.
I just wished that the book provided more information and insights. As an Egyptian, I knew at least 80% of the stuff mentioned in the book and was eager to know more- particularly those behind-the-scenes conversations and decisions.
All in all, it is a good book. However, its main focus is not the revolution itself but Mubarak- mainly as a person not just as a president.
Hope's style is very engaging and she brilliantly weaves the stories told by her interviewees with accurate observations of the Egyptian social and political environment before and during the 18-day revolution.
I just wished that the book provided more information and insights. As an Egyptian, I knew at least 80% of the stuff mentioned in the book and was eager to know more- particularly those behind-the-scenes conversations and decisions.
All in all, it is a good book. However, its main focus is not the revolution itself but Mubarak- mainly as a person not just as a president.
January 28, 2013
Very poor journalism work. The author neither brought any new information other than the already known , nor did he put a thorough analysis of Mubarak's era .
Instead , the narrative basicly features the personal life of Mubarak and kind of tells his side of story as a human being . Neglecting in the process the devastating results of his economic and political policies that have brought Egypt to its knees .
Instead , the narrative basicly features the personal life of Mubarak and kind of tells his side of story as a human being . Neglecting in the process the devastating results of his economic and political policies that have brought Egypt to its knees .
March 8, 2013
A quick recap of the last days of Hosni Mubarek in Egypt. Lots of back door dealing and a blow by blow of Mubarek's mentality, and his actions. Not much for action on the street, but gives you insight into what he and his cronies were thinking as the country came toppling down around them. Lots of interviews compiled, but you definitely feel it's a bit of a rush job. First draft of history.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews