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Cairo in the War 1939 - 1945
This is an account of life, attitudes and events in Cairo during World War II. It describes the historical background of the events of the Desert War, as well as stories and descriptions of personalities gleaned from the Ambassador's diaries and those of her grandparents, Duff and Diana Cooper.
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First published April 10, 1995
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About the author
Artemis Cooper
18 books32 followersShe is the only daughter of the second Viscount Norwich and his first wife, Anne (née Clifford), and a granddaughter of Lady Diana Cooper. She has a brother, the Hon. Jason Charles Duff Bede Cooper, and a half-sister, Allegra Huston, the only child of Lord Norwich and Enrica Soma Huston, the estranged wife of American film director John Huston. She attended the French Lycee, the Convent of the Sacred Heart in Woldingham and Camden School for Girls. She then went to St Hugh's College, Oxford and obtained a degree in English language and literature. In July 2015, she was awarded an honorary doctorate from the University of York.
She spent time in Alexandria, Egypt, with Voluntary Service Overseas teaching English at the University of Alexandria. She has also lived in America, mostly in New Mexico.
In 1986, Artemis Cooper married fellow writer and historian Antony Beevor. The couple have two children, Nella and Adam.
She spent time in Alexandria, Egypt, with Voluntary Service Overseas teaching English at the University of Alexandria. She has also lived in America, mostly in New Mexico.
In 1986, Artemis Cooper married fellow writer and historian Antony Beevor. The couple have two children, Nella and Adam.
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Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews
April 17, 2024
A very interesting look at wartime Cairo, with all its intrigue and danger. Cairo lifestyle during the war features in many books where young men and women on leave lived as if it was their last days, for which many it was, and usually takes place at the Gazira Club or the Long Bar at Shepheards Hotel. This book delves deeper into Cairo, and is filled with all the politics and decision making, and also all the big social events. Throughout the book there is always the tension in the Anglo-Egyptian relations, as the Egyptians were waiting for the opportunity to gain their independence, while the British saw the country as too important strategically to hand over during the war years.
Filled with great historical background, though the book is not always the easiest to read as it gets a bit dry at times with all the politics involved. Still recommended for an interesting addition to any World War 2 shelf.
Filled with great historical background, though the book is not always the easiest to read as it gets a bit dry at times with all the politics involved. Still recommended for an interesting addition to any World War 2 shelf.
March 31, 2019
I have seldom enjoyed literary gossip so much. Lawrence Durrell, Evelyn Waugh, Fitzroy Maclean, Cavafy, Randolph Churchill, Eve Curie, Alex Kinross, Olivia Manning, and Seferis are writers who were known to me before I started the book that appear. She mentions another dozen or so that I had not heard of before. Cooper's frenzied name dropping made me feel at times that I was listening to one of Paganini's wild sonatas. However, in Cooper's social circle there were as many senior Conservative politicians as there were literary figures. Her book's greatest value is the portrait that it provides of Britain's imperial political caste as it was about to let Egypt and many other territories slip out of its empire.
"Cairo in the War" offers the most pleasure when it acts as the fifth volume of the "Alexandria Quartet" describing in dazzling fashion Egypt's English and Turkish elites at the end of its epoch. During the time frame covered in Cooper's book, the rich and powerful partied constantly. The women wore fabulous jewelry. Dress was elegant and alcohol flowed in torrents. Everyone seemed to be involved in extra-marital affairs. For Cooper it was a great era but one that was sowing the seeds of its own destruction.
The British in their weaker moments had a way of insulting both allies and subjects. Miles Lampson, 1st Baron Killearn, British Ambassador to Egypt and effective ruler liked to take his rifle with him when he went golfing in order to shoot any birds that tried to steal is ball. At times he would kill twenty to thirty enraging any local Arab who witnessed the spectacular. Lampson was also very high-handed with King Farouk at one point sending the army into the palace grounds to force Farouk to name a new prime minister.
The British obsession with rank and privilege at times infuriated the troops from the United States, Australia and New Zealand that had come to assist the British defend their colony against the Germans. The chic bars and restaurants of Cairo were for officers only. Enlisted men were forbidden access. The English understood because the same rules prevailed at home but the Americans and soldiers from the colonies were outraged.
Cooper also tells with brilliant insight the three-cornered political jousting between the Albanese-Turkish royal family led by Farouk, the colonial administrators led by Lampson and the Arabic parliamentarians of whom the most important was probably the Wafdis" Nahas Pasha. Finally Cooper describes the how the Free Officer's Movement follows the events gradually coming to the conviction that they must seize control in order to rid Egypt of an irredeemably corrupt colonial regime. Gamal Abdel Nasser will not actually depose Nasser until 1952 which is out of the time frame of the book. However, Cooper makes it clear that by the end of WWII Farouk's monarchy and the British regime in Egypt were clearly doomed.
Cooper is the wife of Antony Beevor and the daughter of Julius Norwich. Her "Cairo in the War" is as fine as anything produced by this very illustrious clan of historians.
"Cairo in the War" offers the most pleasure when it acts as the fifth volume of the "Alexandria Quartet" describing in dazzling fashion Egypt's English and Turkish elites at the end of its epoch. During the time frame covered in Cooper's book, the rich and powerful partied constantly. The women wore fabulous jewelry. Dress was elegant and alcohol flowed in torrents. Everyone seemed to be involved in extra-marital affairs. For Cooper it was a great era but one that was sowing the seeds of its own destruction.
The British in their weaker moments had a way of insulting both allies and subjects. Miles Lampson, 1st Baron Killearn, British Ambassador to Egypt and effective ruler liked to take his rifle with him when he went golfing in order to shoot any birds that tried to steal is ball. At times he would kill twenty to thirty enraging any local Arab who witnessed the spectacular. Lampson was also very high-handed with King Farouk at one point sending the army into the palace grounds to force Farouk to name a new prime minister.
The British obsession with rank and privilege at times infuriated the troops from the United States, Australia and New Zealand that had come to assist the British defend their colony against the Germans. The chic bars and restaurants of Cairo were for officers only. Enlisted men were forbidden access. The English understood because the same rules prevailed at home but the Americans and soldiers from the colonies were outraged.
Cooper also tells with brilliant insight the three-cornered political jousting between the Albanese-Turkish royal family led by Farouk, the colonial administrators led by Lampson and the Arabic parliamentarians of whom the most important was probably the Wafdis" Nahas Pasha. Finally Cooper describes the how the Free Officer's Movement follows the events gradually coming to the conviction that they must seize control in order to rid Egypt of an irredeemably corrupt colonial regime. Gamal Abdel Nasser will not actually depose Nasser until 1952 which is out of the time frame of the book. However, Cooper makes it clear that by the end of WWII Farouk's monarchy and the British regime in Egypt were clearly doomed.
Cooper is the wife of Antony Beevor and the daughter of Julius Norwich. Her "Cairo in the War" is as fine as anything produced by this very illustrious clan of historians.
October 24, 2022
النسخة المترجمة من الكتاب "Cairo in the War 1939 - 1945"
كنت أتوقع عمل أكثر إثارة ولكن ظني خاب، فأغلبية محتواه أحاديث عن أشخاص ليست بأهمية وليس لهم علاقة بمصر سوى أن الحرب أرغمتهم على العيش بها أو السفر إليها والتوجه إلى وجهة أخرى فيما بعد.
وبعد حذف هذه الأحاديث التي قد توصف - بالهري - قد يقع الكتاب في 200 صفحة فقط.
الكتاب تحدث عن مصر وأهم شخصياتها في فترة الحرب العالمية الثانية، كما تحدث أيضًا عن أشهر المعارك وخصوصًا معارك جيش رومل والذي كان على مسافة أميال من الإسكندرية.
تحدث أيضًا عن أحوال القاهرة وأهلها من غلاء وتضخم وخوف ورهبة من أحداث الحرب.
العلاقة بين الملك، ورئيس الوزراء المصري، والسفارة البريطانية والسفير، كانت هي الأبرز والتي كنت أتمنى أن تعطينا لمحة أكثر عمقًا عن هذه العلاقة.
صورة نادرة لحادث محاصرة سرايا عابدين من قبل الجيش البريطاني عام 1942، حيث أجبر السفير البريطاني السير مايلز لامبسون فاروق على التوقيع على قرار باستدعاء زعيم حزب الوفد مصطفى النحاس لتشكيل الحكومة بمفرده أو أن يتنازل عن العرش.
كما أشارت الكاتبة إلى الطبقة العليا في البلاد، والتي ضمت العائلة المالكة المصرية، وما يدور من همس وإشاعات عنها، ولكن بالطبع هي مجرد إشاعات لا نستطيع التأكد منها.
صورة مجمعة لعدد من الصور ترصد جنود الحلفاء في شوارع القاهرة
كنت أتوقع عمل أكثر إثارة ولكن ظني خاب، فأغلبية محتواه أحاديث عن أشخاص ليست بأهمية وليس لهم علاقة بمصر سوى أن الحرب أرغمتهم على العيش بها أو السفر إليها والتوجه إلى وجهة أخرى فيما بعد.
وبعد حذف هذه الأحاديث التي قد توصف - بالهري - قد يقع الكتاب في 200 صفحة فقط.
الكتاب تحدث عن مصر وأهم شخصياتها في فترة الحرب العالمية الثانية، كما تحدث أيضًا عن أشهر المعارك وخصوصًا معارك جيش رومل والذي كان على مسافة أميال من الإسكندرية.
تحدث أيضًا عن أحوال القاهرة وأهلها من غلاء وتضخم وخوف ورهبة من أحداث الحرب.
العلاقة بين الملك، ورئيس الوزراء المصري، والسفارة البريطانية والسفير، كانت هي الأبرز والتي كنت أتمنى أن تعطينا لمحة أكثر عمقًا عن هذه العلاقة.
صورة نادرة لحادث محاصرة سرايا عابدين من قبل الجيش البريطاني عام 1942، حيث أجبر السفير البريطاني السير مايلز لامبسون فاروق على التوقيع على قرار باستدعاء زعيم حزب الوفد مصطفى النحاس لتشكيل الحكومة بمفرده أو أن يتنازل عن العرش.
كما أشارت الكاتبة إلى الطبقة العليا في البلاد، والتي ضمت العائلة المالكة المصرية، وما يدور من همس وإشاعات عنها، ولكن بالطبع هي مجرد إشاعات لا نستطيع التأكد منها.
صورة مجمعة لعدد من الصور ترصد جنود الحلفاء في شوارع القاهرة
August 4, 2018
Presents a side of the Second World War seldom written about, as seen from the vantage point of a colorful Middle Eastern city caught up in the conflict by virtue of being in a country that was a de facto British protectorate, parts of which came under Axis control between 1940 and 1942.
June 3, 2014
Through an entertaining string of vignettes, all told from the British point of view, Cooper paints an entertaining picture of what life was like for the military and civil service expats who were part of the Allies' African war effort based out of Cairo (and to a lesser extent Alexandria).
The best way to describe this is probably 'history lite' though there is indeed a fairly large dose of WWII era history here. But it's the social structure and expat mores, as well as the civil service infighting, that make up the real core of the book.
I'm not sure there's much to be learned by reading this book as a stand-alone in order to study the nitty-gritty of the Allies' African and Mediterranean efforts, but as a companion piece to other, more history-laden resources, it's rich color commentary offering a somewhat less heroic, albeit more human, overview of what life during wartime--but mostly away from the dangers of the battlefront--might actually have been like.
The best way to describe this is probably 'history lite' though there is indeed a fairly large dose of WWII era history here. But it's the social structure and expat mores, as well as the civil service infighting, that make up the real core of the book.
I'm not sure there's much to be learned by reading this book as a stand-alone in order to study the nitty-gritty of the Allies' African and Mediterranean efforts, but as a companion piece to other, more history-laden resources, it's rich color commentary offering a somewhat less heroic, albeit more human, overview of what life during wartime--but mostly away from the dangers of the battlefront--might actually have been like.
March 10, 2016
Despite containing footnotes and references, Artemis Copper’s Cairo in the War is less concerned with making an argument about its eponymous topic than it is providing an accessible narrative of the period under study. Despite not being particularly academic, however, the dearth of genuinely scholarly material on Cairo during World War II makes this work, at the very least, an interesting read and a potential source of information. It even attempts to offer a social, rather than high political, history, albeit one that is told from the perspective of the British. Nonetheless, the book should be evaluated not as an academic study of Egypt, but as a popular historical account of a period of British rule in the country.
Cooper begins with a brief historical background chapter that is not nearly as Orientalist in nature as it could be, although the work overall feels as if it were compiled from the perspective and biases of someone writing two or three decades prior to its actual publication date. She then introduces the major personalities of her period of study, most notably King Farouk, his ally Ali Maher Pasha, and the British Commissioner Sir Miles Lampson, before delving into the war years. She provides some context for British rule in Egypt at the onset of the war, arguing that, as a strategic center, Egypt was of some importance to the British, but they had to rebuild the military infrastructure that had fallen apart after World War I. Ali Maher, as Prime Minster, curried disfavor quickly with the British by doing everything he could to prevent Egypt from declaring war against the Axis and, after he was dismissed, he was replaced by an even less popular successor from the Wafd, Hasan Sabry Pasha. Some of the military history of the first year of the war is intertwined into this portion of the narrative and is expanded upon in the next chapter, which highlights the defeat of the approaching Italian forces. This victory, however, caused a rift between the indigenous population and the British, with the former believing that they should be rewarded because their support was essential and the latter feeling that the Egyptians should be more grateful for their presence.
After this chapter, however, appearances by the indigenous population become much less frequent and the structure of the narrative begins to vacillate between military history and the social hijinks of a British expatriate population that seemed oblivious to the conflict. The author’s overarching theme, as suggested by her prologue, is the way in which life overall changed very little in Cairo during the war, and the way in which people acted as if nothing was happening. Beginning in spring of 1941, Germany emerged as the primary antagonist and their early military victories raised that nation’s stature in the eyes of the Egyptians, who were increasingly eager to escape the British occupation. The Germans were also much better in terms of propaganda, particularly as they, unlike the British, were able to support Arab nationalism (at least in their discourse). This led sizeable sectors of the population, most importantly students, to support the Germans and seek ways in which the British position could be undermined. The situation was not helped by the destructive boredom of the British troops, problems of administration, and the deteriorating economic conditions whose impact hit hardest for the poorest sections of society.
Further military setbacks led to a reorganization of critical command staff during the winter of 1941-1942, a development that Cooper juxtaposes against the flourishing of English literature in wartime Cairo. Returning briefly to the political situation, she chronicles how the deteriorating situation led to the downfall of Hasan Sabry’s successor, Hussein Sirry, and his replacement by Nahas Pasha, who clashed with both the British and the King. He possessed considerable popular support, however, leading the British to formulate a plan for deposing Farouk. Although the threat was not carried through, the attempt to do so roused further ill-will among the local population. Furthermore, Nahas’ collusion with the British led to a loss of credibility for the Wafd and more radical organizations began to gain substantial popularity. In May 1942, meanwhile, the Germans captured Tobruk, which placed them in striking distance of Alexandria. The increasingly likely possibility of German occupation led many Egyptians to prepare to switch allegiance, while panic set in for others as they came to realize that a German presence was not a particularly attractive prospect.
Such circumstances, however, did not come to pass, and the arrival of Bernard Montgomery in Northern Africa shifted Britain’s military fortunes and led to Rommel’s defeat. It also signalled the arrival of an increased American presence in Cairo, which led to tensions with the British soldiers. By spring 1943 Egypt’s postwar future was a subject of consideration, which catalyzed opposition factions, led by Makram Ebeid, to publish a book of political scandals in March 1943. This bolstered popular dissatisfaction with both the party and British and gave the palace an opportunity to distance itself from both groups. With the final victory over Axis Africa occurring in May 15, 1943, the population became less willing to tolerate the British presence and intrigues, and they were only angered further as the British helped keep the increasingly unpopular Nahas in power.
The remainder of the work narrates the increasingly hostile situation in Cairo as the war drew to a conclusion. The British took more advantage of their martial control over the city as concerns about communist infiltration rose, particularly when a meeting between Roosevelt, Churchill, and Chiang Kai-Shek took place in Egypt. The rise of malaria in spring 1944 caused concern, particularly in regards to the impact that it had on the countryside, and contributed further to discontent that was transformed into nationalist sentiments and support for radical organizations. Nahas was eventually replaced by Ahmed Maher, but this did little to ameliorate the situation, and he was assassinated shortly after helping pass a declaration of war against the Axis, in the hopes that Egypt would be able to participate in the peace process.
Cooper’s epilogue reinforces the idea that life in Cairo, particularly for the British, was affected very little by the war, although she does point out that the discontent fostered during the period was critical to providing popular support for the 1952 Revolution. Thus, even though her work is not an academic text, it is useful in providing an accessible portrayal, context, and perspective for the era that can be built upon by scholars seeking to apply a historically and theoretically rigorous analysis to the subject. Taken for what it is, a popular history of Britain with special reference to Egypt (as opposed to a history of Egypt), this book can be considered valuable, but for scholars it will probably hold little more than casual interest. Even in this context, however, it is not perfect, as contextualizing details are often missing and the jumpiness of the narrative can make it difficult to follow. Overall, however, if one was interested in the subject, Cairo in the War would be a fine place to begin.
Cooper begins with a brief historical background chapter that is not nearly as Orientalist in nature as it could be, although the work overall feels as if it were compiled from the perspective and biases of someone writing two or three decades prior to its actual publication date. She then introduces the major personalities of her period of study, most notably King Farouk, his ally Ali Maher Pasha, and the British Commissioner Sir Miles Lampson, before delving into the war years. She provides some context for British rule in Egypt at the onset of the war, arguing that, as a strategic center, Egypt was of some importance to the British, but they had to rebuild the military infrastructure that had fallen apart after World War I. Ali Maher, as Prime Minster, curried disfavor quickly with the British by doing everything he could to prevent Egypt from declaring war against the Axis and, after he was dismissed, he was replaced by an even less popular successor from the Wafd, Hasan Sabry Pasha. Some of the military history of the first year of the war is intertwined into this portion of the narrative and is expanded upon in the next chapter, which highlights the defeat of the approaching Italian forces. This victory, however, caused a rift between the indigenous population and the British, with the former believing that they should be rewarded because their support was essential and the latter feeling that the Egyptians should be more grateful for their presence.
After this chapter, however, appearances by the indigenous population become much less frequent and the structure of the narrative begins to vacillate between military history and the social hijinks of a British expatriate population that seemed oblivious to the conflict. The author’s overarching theme, as suggested by her prologue, is the way in which life overall changed very little in Cairo during the war, and the way in which people acted as if nothing was happening. Beginning in spring of 1941, Germany emerged as the primary antagonist and their early military victories raised that nation’s stature in the eyes of the Egyptians, who were increasingly eager to escape the British occupation. The Germans were also much better in terms of propaganda, particularly as they, unlike the British, were able to support Arab nationalism (at least in their discourse). This led sizeable sectors of the population, most importantly students, to support the Germans and seek ways in which the British position could be undermined. The situation was not helped by the destructive boredom of the British troops, problems of administration, and the deteriorating economic conditions whose impact hit hardest for the poorest sections of society.
Further military setbacks led to a reorganization of critical command staff during the winter of 1941-1942, a development that Cooper juxtaposes against the flourishing of English literature in wartime Cairo. Returning briefly to the political situation, she chronicles how the deteriorating situation led to the downfall of Hasan Sabry’s successor, Hussein Sirry, and his replacement by Nahas Pasha, who clashed with both the British and the King. He possessed considerable popular support, however, leading the British to formulate a plan for deposing Farouk. Although the threat was not carried through, the attempt to do so roused further ill-will among the local population. Furthermore, Nahas’ collusion with the British led to a loss of credibility for the Wafd and more radical organizations began to gain substantial popularity. In May 1942, meanwhile, the Germans captured Tobruk, which placed them in striking distance of Alexandria. The increasingly likely possibility of German occupation led many Egyptians to prepare to switch allegiance, while panic set in for others as they came to realize that a German presence was not a particularly attractive prospect.
Such circumstances, however, did not come to pass, and the arrival of Bernard Montgomery in Northern Africa shifted Britain’s military fortunes and led to Rommel’s defeat. It also signalled the arrival of an increased American presence in Cairo, which led to tensions with the British soldiers. By spring 1943 Egypt’s postwar future was a subject of consideration, which catalyzed opposition factions, led by Makram Ebeid, to publish a book of political scandals in March 1943. This bolstered popular dissatisfaction with both the party and British and gave the palace an opportunity to distance itself from both groups. With the final victory over Axis Africa occurring in May 15, 1943, the population became less willing to tolerate the British presence and intrigues, and they were only angered further as the British helped keep the increasingly unpopular Nahas in power.
The remainder of the work narrates the increasingly hostile situation in Cairo as the war drew to a conclusion. The British took more advantage of their martial control over the city as concerns about communist infiltration rose, particularly when a meeting between Roosevelt, Churchill, and Chiang Kai-Shek took place in Egypt. The rise of malaria in spring 1944 caused concern, particularly in regards to the impact that it had on the countryside, and contributed further to discontent that was transformed into nationalist sentiments and support for radical organizations. Nahas was eventually replaced by Ahmed Maher, but this did little to ameliorate the situation, and he was assassinated shortly after helping pass a declaration of war against the Axis, in the hopes that Egypt would be able to participate in the peace process.
Cooper’s epilogue reinforces the idea that life in Cairo, particularly for the British, was affected very little by the war, although she does point out that the discontent fostered during the period was critical to providing popular support for the 1952 Revolution. Thus, even though her work is not an academic text, it is useful in providing an accessible portrayal, context, and perspective for the era that can be built upon by scholars seeking to apply a historically and theoretically rigorous analysis to the subject. Taken for what it is, a popular history of Britain with special reference to Egypt (as opposed to a history of Egypt), this book can be considered valuable, but for scholars it will probably hold little more than casual interest. Even in this context, however, it is not perfect, as contextualizing details are often missing and the jumpiness of the narrative can make it difficult to follow. Overall, however, if one was interested in the subject, Cairo in the War would be a fine place to begin.
January 31, 2025
OK I am way behind on my book reviews, and I genuinely don’t feel the need to write long reviews of non-fiction books…so don’t expect much from the next two books. I read this book for research for writing an upcoming novel. I needed to read this for research but the book ended up don’t being super helpful, although it did the trick of teaching me what the region was like during the second WW.
February 24, 2008
I first read parts of this book in 1994, when I was travelling through Egypt. Many of the vestigages of the English influence were still evident throughout Cairo. I commend the author for tackling such a fascinating subject. So many interesting writers and artists fled to Cairo during WWII, and it was interesting to read how they got along (or didn't.) Lawrence Durrell, Olivia Manning, Randolph Churchill...the list goes on and on.
The one drawback to this book is that it didn't really talk much about the Egyptian experience. I'm not sure if this is a fair criticism, since the whole focus of the book is supposed to be on the English expats of the time. Still, it was kind of abrupt when the English pulled out and King Farouk was sent packing and Egypt was left like Oz or Wonderland...a strange place to visit, but quickly forgotten once you left. As far as I'm concerned, Egypt is one of the main characters of this story, and to leave her high and dry seemed a bit disrespectful.
The one drawback to this book is that it didn't really talk much about the Egyptian experience. I'm not sure if this is a fair criticism, since the whole focus of the book is supposed to be on the English expats of the time. Still, it was kind of abrupt when the English pulled out and King Farouk was sent packing and Egypt was left like Oz or Wonderland...a strange place to visit, but quickly forgotten once you left. As far as I'm concerned, Egypt is one of the main characters of this story, and to leave her high and dry seemed a bit disrespectful.
June 11, 2019
The praise on my copy of this book is all of the 'reads like a novel' variety, and they're not wrong. Despite being obviously well-researched and meticulously set out, Cooper didn't let herself get bogged down anywhere.
She has a knack for interspersing military history with social history without making either feel trite or in service to the other, and without doing either a disservice. She spins a fascinating story about life in a shared villa on Cairo's outskirts, then turns her attention to the trajectory of Rommel's troops and the intricacies of SOE with ease. It seems, from her story, that this total immersion into the life of the war was the normal experience of Cairo, so it's fitting that she brings it out so well in her writing.
She has a knack for interspersing military history with social history without making either feel trite or in service to the other, and without doing either a disservice. She spins a fascinating story about life in a shared villa on Cairo's outskirts, then turns her attention to the trajectory of Rommel's troops and the intricacies of SOE with ease. It seems, from her story, that this total immersion into the life of the war was the normal experience of Cairo, so it's fitting that she brings it out so well in her writing.
September 19, 2021
My granny was Egyptian and left Cairo for the UK on New Year's Eve 1945, having married my English grandpa the month before. So this book had personal interest to me, and I was pleased to see one of my relatives got a mention. I learned all kinds of things that helped round out my knowledge of Egypt (such as that for a long time, Turkish was the language of the Egyptian court. My granny's father was Turkish and I'd wondered how he'd fitted in). This is a well-written and gossipy history of a period and country I don't see much discussed by British historians.
November 12, 2016
This book doesn't quite do what its title suggests. It does give a very readable account of how the Second World War affected Cairo (and, to some extent, the rest of Egypt), but only from the viewpoint of the various ex-pat communities - particularly the British - and the Egyptian elite. From 1914 onwards, the relationship between Britain and Egypt was a complicated one; although not technically part of the Empire, the British seem to have treated it as such, and the Egyptians naturally bridled at this. When WW2 started, this distrust led to all sorts of problems throughout the war, leading ultimately to British expulsion from the country after the war.
This book gives a straightforward account of events; concentrating understandably on the period of the Desert War. The changing military and political situation are handled well, and there is much about the bungling and rivalries that always seem to appear in such situations, as well as the machinations around the palace of King Farouk.
My one criticism is that there is nothing much about the majority of the population of Cairo (or Egypt). A lot of the material is about the social and cultural world of ex-pat Cairo; interesting as this is, it was a very narrow world and the author seemed more comfortable with this material than with some of the more complex issues going on elsewhere.
This book gives a straightforward account of events; concentrating understandably on the period of the Desert War. The changing military and political situation are handled well, and there is much about the bungling and rivalries that always seem to appear in such situations, as well as the machinations around the palace of King Farouk.
My one criticism is that there is nothing much about the majority of the population of Cairo (or Egypt). A lot of the material is about the social and cultural world of ex-pat Cairo; interesting as this is, it was a very narrow world and the author seemed more comfortable with this material than with some of the more complex issues going on elsewhere.
February 13, 2022
I enjoyed reading this book, but I'm sure it's because of my prior forays into the works of Patrick Leigh Fermor and William Moss, both of whom resided in Cairo during parts of this time period and both of whose works interweave experiences in Cairo. I surmise that most of the players in this book are unfamiliar to North American readers, due to the lack of significant presence of American military in Cairo during World War II. Nevertheless, many fascinating characters are presented, and historical events are depicted in such a manner as to keep the reader's interest. One challenge though is the extensive use of military and peerage terminology and abbreviations, much of which was completely unfamiliar to me.
July 16, 2018
A very well-told history, which is both informative and often amusing. There is a lot of gossip about the elite echelons of Anglo-Cairene society (both military and civil), but Cooper does not neglect the concerns of native Egyptians, although British and Commonwealth other ranks don't get much of look-in.
January 15, 2020
Well written and interesting book that really explains Egyptian history from the end of the Ottomans till about 1952 also a lot about life in Cairo and Alexandria through the very interesting years when people like Durrell and Paddy Leigh Fermor were there. Shes a really good writer.
August 2, 2017
دردشة ذكية و ممتعة عن القاهرة و اهلها فى الاربعينات
January 16, 2018
Excellent mix of social and political history - well told.
June 13, 2018
- For both sides, the battle of Sunday, 23 November was one of the bloodiest and most costly of the Desert War. It fell, appropriately enough, on Totensonntag, the Day of the Dead. -
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 13, 2020
الحياة داخل القاهرة بكل تفاصيلها وشخصياتها السياسية والعسكرية المصرية والبريطانية خلال سنوات الحرب العالمية الثانية 1939-1945
June 6, 2021
رغم بعض المشاكل القليلة في الترجمة . لكن الكتاب مميز جدا و يغطى تلك الحقبة بشكل لا نكاد نجده في اى كتاب آخر.
July 22, 2021
Finally, I started this book in 2019 and have only just finished reading it.....it was a one of those books that you either read all in one hit or slowly. Lots of people and history to remember.
January 22, 2024
An interesting insight into the profligate existence of the British in Egypt during WWII. Also provides a good overview of the war on North Africa and the Mediterranean.
March 2, 2024
كتاب رائع يغطي جوانب كثيرة من مصر في هذه الفتره المهمه
January 27, 2025
One day, looking in at the window of Blue Hills Books in Auckland, I saw Cairo in The War and had a brainwave. It can happen. Oliva Manning, Freya Stark and Patrick Leigh Fermor—favorites of mine—had been in Cairo at some point in those times, and it struck me; did they meet? So I went in, checked the index and there they were. All three! Book sold. Though the truth is they were bit-players in an epic with a cast of thousands; from Farouk and Churchill, Montgomery and Rommel on down.
Epic because Cairo in wartime was a churning mix of races and interests, civilians and soldiery, politics and high society, in a city well able to prosper beyond the reach of European austerity. Artemis Cooper makes exemplary prologue of the city’s historical and contemporary preoccupations, follows the back-and-forth of war in North Africa, the wider Mediterranean and Middle East as she must, and on a smaller scale fixes the Cairene experience of those six years via the anecdote and detail of those who lived them.
A problem with the anecdotal is the fine line it dances with gossip and crabbing; though some is irresistible: Lieutenant-General Gerald—Gerry—Wellesley, later 7th Duke of Wellington, is The Iron Duchess; staff officers at GHQ are The Gabardine Swine. But in the end it may be that Artemis Cooper succeeds with the tale for that very reason, by giving the casual as much room as the momentous in a city where world war came and went, made way for revolution and churned on.
A young diplomat, Charles Johnston, in a letter home says: "I’m afraid this reads rather like a gossip column, but Cairo is like that…” The author takes it as her cue and delivers a terrific performance.
Epic because Cairo in wartime was a churning mix of races and interests, civilians and soldiery, politics and high society, in a city well able to prosper beyond the reach of European austerity. Artemis Cooper makes exemplary prologue of the city’s historical and contemporary preoccupations, follows the back-and-forth of war in North Africa, the wider Mediterranean and Middle East as she must, and on a smaller scale fixes the Cairene experience of those six years via the anecdote and detail of those who lived them.
A problem with the anecdotal is the fine line it dances with gossip and crabbing; though some is irresistible: Lieutenant-General Gerald—Gerry—Wellesley, later 7th Duke of Wellington, is The Iron Duchess; staff officers at GHQ are The Gabardine Swine. But in the end it may be that Artemis Cooper succeeds with the tale for that very reason, by giving the casual as much room as the momentous in a city where world war came and went, made way for revolution and churned on.
A young diplomat, Charles Johnston, in a letter home says: "I’m afraid this reads rather like a gossip column, but Cairo is like that…” The author takes it as her cue and delivers a terrific performance.
March 27, 2021
بدء من إسم الكتاب فهو غير معبر عن أحداثه، فتسمية بالقاهرة من ١٩٣٩ - ١٩٤٥ خاطىء، فهو عبارة عن تناولات لأحداث تاريخية وشخصية لأفراد من الإنجليز بمختلف مراكزهم واوضاعهم و ذكرياتهم يتناول بعض الاحداث السياسية المصرية وبعض أحداث الإستعمار وكذلك احداث من الحرب العالمية الثانية الإ أن أغلب محتوياته تخص تفاصيل لأحداث ثانوية لشخصيات إنجليزية بصفة عامة . ليس هذا هو المرجو من كتاب يتناول القاهرة في أحداث الحرب العالمية الثانية
July 22, 2013
One the one hand, a life-and-death struggle in the desert between Axis and Allies; and on the other, a glittering social whirl in the colonial capital. Cooper does an admirable job of detailing Cairo's wartime history, and is especially good at showing how revolutionary tensions suddenly and completely ended Britain's colonial presence.
July 7, 2012
Fascinating book covering many aspects of Egypt at this time. Very easy to read.
March 28, 2017
كتاب شيق استمتعت بقراءته، يتحدث عن القاهرة في فترة تواجد القوات البريطانية فيها بحجم كبير أثناء الحرب العالمية الثانية، كيف كان يعيش الضباط وكيف كان يتعامل معهم المصريون وكيف كانت حياة الملك، وتعامله مع الانحليز ومع الوزارات المتتابعة خلال تلك الفترة، وكيف كانت مشاعر المصريين تجاه قوات الحلفاء والمحور، ثم تفاصيل دقيقة عن حريق القاهرة الذي مازال لا يعرف على وجه التحقيق من الذي خطط له وهل هي جهة واحدة أم جهات متعددة، ثم حدوث الانقلاب العسكري في 23 يوليو 1952.
يتميز الكتاب بإسلوب أدبي شيق ومعلومات دقيقة قد لا تكون نشرت من قبل كما تتصف الكاتبة بالإنصاف في حديثها عن قوات المحور والشعب المصري وهم يعدون أعداء دولتها بريطانيا كما تنتقد الأخطاء والتجاوزات التي كانت تقوم بها القوات البريطانية.
يعاب عليه أن بعض المعلومات التفصيلية تفتقر إلى المصدر أو تستند إلى مصدر حديث نسبيا مثل كتابات عبد الناصر والسادات.
الكاتبة هي ارتميس كوبر، كاتبة انجليزية عاشت في مصر في تلك القترة، ودرست في جامعة الاسكندرية.
يتميز الكتاب بإسلوب أدبي شيق ومعلومات دقيقة قد لا تكون نشرت من قبل كما تتصف الكاتبة بالإنصاف في حديثها عن قوات المحور والشعب المصري وهم يعدون أعداء دولتها بريطانيا كما تنتقد الأخطاء والتجاوزات التي كانت تقوم بها القوات البريطانية.
يعاب عليه أن بعض المعلومات التفصيلية تفتقر إلى المصدر أو تستند إلى مصدر حديث نسبيا مثل كتابات عبد الناصر والسادات.
الكاتبة هي ارتميس كوبر، كاتبة انجليزية عاشت في مصر في تلك القترة، ودرست في جامعة الاسكندرية.
April 21, 2017
I pulled this book from a pile of donations at our local library as the photo on the cover, British soldier walking with a woman in uniform, caught my attention. Plus I am always interested in the smaller picture of WW II rather than the great big picture. It was interesting to see the war from a niche perspective, though the soldiers and officers would hardly consider it in this manner. It was mostly from the British perspective (how they manipulated the political scene ) and the palace intrigue of King Farouk.
Then came the revolution (1951-52) and the great fire which resulted in the total destruction of that symbol of British Colonialism, Shepheard's Hotel. It was later rebuilt and is now undergoing renovation, I think.
Then came the revolution (1951-52) and the great fire which resulted in the total destruction of that symbol of British Colonialism, Shepheard's Hotel. It was later rebuilt and is now undergoing renovation, I think.
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