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Cairo Rations: The memoir that inspired a novel
In 1973 I travelled to Egypt to study Arabic at Cairo University for six months as part of the BA in Modern Languages at the Polytechnic of Central London. War broke out shortly after I arrived, and I spent a far more eventful study abroad than the Poly had planned.This little book began as a memory jogger. I was planning a novel set in Cairo during the October 1973 war, but I struggled to recall the details. So during 2014 I wrote these nine essays, about one a month, publishing them on my website as they were completed. Friends and relatives seemed to like them. I prepared this book by putting the original essays in chronological order and tidying up loose ends.As I wrote the essays, the fog of four decades cleared. My research for the novel filled some of my memory gaps, especially the lead-up to the war. By the time I began writing the novel I was able to easily transport myself back to 1973 - or at least a version of 1973 cobbled together from memory traces, retellings of the stories, and published accounts of the period and its events. I’m delighted to say that the novel Cairo Mon Amour is now complete.
- GenresTravel
47 pages, Kindle Edition
Published June 20, 2016
2 people want to read
About the author
Stuart Campbell
6 booksLibrarian Note: There is more than one author by this name in the Goodreads database.
Stuart Campbell began writing fiction in the eighties, but was diverted by the need to earn a living; those early literary efforts lie - thankfully - deep in landfill somewhere near London. After exiting the world of academia he restarted his affair with writing fiction in 2011.
Stuart was formerly a Professor of Linguistics and a Pro Vice Chancellor at Western Sydney University. He has published numerous books, chapters and research articles in the areas of translation studies and Arabic linguistics. Stuart holds the title of Emeritus Professor.
Born in London, Stuart has lived in Sydney since the seventies.
Stuart Campbell began writing fiction in the eighties, but was diverted by the need to earn a living; those early literary efforts lie - thankfully - deep in landfill somewhere near London. After exiting the world of academia he restarted his affair with writing fiction in 2011.
Stuart was formerly a Professor of Linguistics and a Pro Vice Chancellor at Western Sydney University. He has published numerous books, chapters and research articles in the areas of translation studies and Arabic linguistics. Stuart holds the title of Emeritus Professor.
Born in London, Stuart has lived in Sydney since the seventies.
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Displaying 1 of 1 review
November 10, 2016
This is a free downloadable book from smashwords.
It is a recently written collection of essays on the authors time in Cairo in 1973, where he had recently arrived as a student for continued Arabic language lessons, which were curtailed by the outbreak of the Yom Kippur War (Egypt & Syria led Arab states against Israel).
The book consists of nine essays written by the author as a memory jog and research into a novel set in the same location and era. They cover various topics from a trip to Alexandria on a ferry, various people the author met in his time in Cairo, the awareness (or lack thereof) of the outbreak of war, the authors brief introduction to the University (before it was closed during the war), being provided with foreigner’s rations, and others.
They are well written and short essays, readable and informative.
Three stars for me.
It is a recently written collection of essays on the authors time in Cairo in 1973, where he had recently arrived as a student for continued Arabic language lessons, which were curtailed by the outbreak of the Yom Kippur War (Egypt & Syria led Arab states against Israel).
The book consists of nine essays written by the author as a memory jog and research into a novel set in the same location and era. They cover various topics from a trip to Alexandria on a ferry, various people the author met in his time in Cairo, the awareness (or lack thereof) of the outbreak of war, the authors brief introduction to the University (before it was closed during the war), being provided with foreigner’s rations, and others.
They are well written and short essays, readable and informative.
Three stars for me.
Displaying 1 of 1 review