'The Book of Cairo: A City in Short Fiction', edited by Raph Cormack.
'The Book of Cairo: A City in Short Fiction', edited by Raph Cormack.
'The Book of Cairo: A City in Short Fiction', edited by Raph Cormack.
'The Book of Cairo: A City in Short Fiction', edited by Raph Cormack.

'The Book of Cairo' sheds light on life and laughter in the Egyptian city through short stories


  • English
  • Arabic

If it's tempting to cast the new short story collection The Book Of Cairo as a snapshot of the Egyptian capital – "a city in short fiction" is the book's sub­title – then Eman Abdelrahim's contribution is certainly an eye-opener. After all, in the first few paragraphs a girl readily falls for a video shop owner who appears to have a cannibalism fetish. "Cairo has all these beautiful sights but things aren't as they seem; places have their secrets, people have hidden lives," says Abdelrahim by way of explanation. "What I wanted to do was explore the fears and nightmares of the people who call this city home."

Abdelrahim says she was heavily influenced by "David Lynch and a very foggy, unclear dream", when she wrote her short story, Two Sisters, in Arabic, which captures the tone of her vivid tale perfectly. It formed the centrepiece of her own short story collection in 2013, The Rooms, which took second place at the Sawiris Cultural Awards two years later, and eventually caught the eye of editor Raph Cormack when he began compiling the fascinating and often unsettling anthology of Egyptian writing that is The Book Of Cairo

The translator and author travelled around Cairo's bookshops and visited publishers, buying all the short story collections he came across – which in Egypt's vibrant literary scene is a lot – and started the long process of sorting through the most interesting writing to translate into English. 

"Eman is definitely one of Egypt's rising literary talents and I wanted to gather together something that spoke not only to modern Cairo, but my feeling of the city, too," Cormack explains. "I learnt Arabic there about 10 years ago and spent most of my 20s in the city. It doesn't feel the same as it did during the events of 2011 in Tahrir Square, when there was this tremendous sense of optimism and possibility. 

"Now, Tahrir hides in the shadows somewhere, we are in a moment where people don't know where they stand … generally there is something happening beneath the surface of the city which can't quite be grasped. That really comes through in Eman's story and others here; there's a sense of the relationship to reality being quite strained."

Alongside Abdelrahim's contribution (which was written before 2011), this idea is most obvious in Hassan Abdel Mawgoud's Into The Emptiness, in which the protagonist is so troubled by and disconnected from his city that he begins to question whether he is alive or dead. The cause of his torment radiates from his isolation in a new development on the outskirts of Cairo. "Maybe things are moving in a certain direction, away from the centre," says Cormack. "But I don't think anyone really realises what that means yet." 

Black comedy is definitely a defining feature of Cairo; almost every Arab you come across will tell you that Egyptians are very funny, but I don't think that's something that anyone in the English-speaking world has any concept of whatsoever.

Into The Emptiness is also blackly comic, as is Hatem Hafez's ­slightly pathetic head of department in Whine (not so far removed from a scene in Ricky Gervais's comedy programme The Office) and Mohamed Kheir's rumour-monger in Talk. With comedy so rarely translated – there's always the concern that the humour literally doesn't translate – it's interesting to find so much to laugh at in The Book of Cairo, too.

"I really hope the comedy comes across," says Cormack. "Black comedy is definitely a defining feature of Cairo; almost every Arab you come across will tell you that Egyptians are very funny, but I don't think that's something that anyone in the English-speaking world has any concept of whatsoever."

Abdelrahim has tried her hand at comedy scriptwriting in the past and one of the functions of The Book Of Cairo is to act as a window into the Egyptian city for the English-speaking world. After Jokha Alharthi's Man Booker International Prize triumph last month for her book Celestial Bodies, Cormack is as wary as Marilyn Booth – who translated Celestial Bodies into English and was Cormack's PhD supervisor – that any story should be expected to completely represent a place or people. "No book can hold that weight," he says. But the fact he used 10 different translators (including himself) for The Book Of Cairo shows that there is a strong interest in Arabic literature. 

"I'm delighted Two Sisters has been translated into English and is in this book," says Abdelrahim. "I want as many people as possible to read my work; for me, writing is an expression of human experience which is common to people all over the world. Maybe if it doesn't touch someone in Egypt, it can in India, for example." 

It's only the second time a piece of Abdelrahim's work has been translated into English, the first being another short story, Estrangement, which features in the latest edition of ArabLit Quarterly, edited by The National contributor M Lynx Qualey. Abdelrahim will have another translation published in Index On Censorship magazine next month. "Like Two Sisters, it mixes surrealism and reality, but it's much stronger," she says. 

Editor Raph Cormack. Getty
Editor Raph Cormack. Getty

The Book Of Cairo may also help to reassure wary publishers of works in English that a novel by a new Arab author is worth taking a chance on. Whether we'll ever see one of Abdelrahim's novels translated into English is a moot point, though, not least because she is not prepared for either of the ideas she's currently working on to be published in Arabic, let alone English. "I enjoy playing with writing and not having to worry about an audience or making money from it," she says. "They'll be published one day, but I'm not so confident about them yet."

For now, we'll simply have to look forward to Laugh And The World Laughs With Me. Written in 2011, it has a link to the uprising in Egypt but is less about the event itself than how it affected the people of Cairo.

"During the time of revolution, I loved Cairo," says Abdelrahim, who now lives in Germany. "But it quickly became oppressive and I felt a big disappointment in almost everything. I felt helpless, uncomfortable, and maybe the best way to explore those feelings is from far away, through writing."

The Book Of Cairo: A City in Short Fiction (Comma Press) is out now

The National in Davos

We are bringing you the inside story from the World Economic Forum's Annual Meeting in Davos, a gathering of hundreds of world leaders, top executives and billionaires.

if you go

The flights
Emirates flies to Delhi with fares starting from around Dh760 return, while Etihad fares cost about Dh783 return. From Delhi, there are connecting flights to Lucknow. 
Where to stay
It is advisable to stay in Lucknow and make a day trip to Kannauj. A stay at the Lebua Lucknow hotel, a traditional Lucknowi mansion, is recommended. Prices start from Dh300 per night (excluding taxes). 

The%20specs
%3Cp%3E%0D%3Cstrong%3EEngine%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E4.0-litre%20twin-turbo%20V8%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPower%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E666hp%20at%206%2C000rpm%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETorque%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E850Nm%20at%202%2C300-4%2C500rpm%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETransmission%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E8-speed%20auto%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EOn%20sale%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EQ1%202023%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPrice%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3Efrom%20Dh1.15%20million%20(estimate)%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
THE SPECS

Engine: 6.75-litre twin-turbocharged V12 petrol engine 

Power: 420kW

Torque: 780Nm

Transmission: 8-speed automatic

Price: From Dh1,350,000

On sale: Available for preorder now

The specs

AT4 Ultimate, as tested

Engine: 6.2-litre V8

Power: 420hp

Torque: 623Nm

Transmission: 10-speed automatic

Price: From Dh330,800 (Elevation: Dh236,400; AT4: Dh286,800; Denali: Dh345,800)

On sale: Now

How to wear a kandura

Dos

  • Wear the right fabric for the right season and occasion 
  • Always ask for the dress code if you don’t know
  • Wear a white kandura, white ghutra / shemagh (headwear) and black shoes for work 
  • Wear 100 per cent cotton under the kandura as most fabrics are polyester

Don’ts 

  • Wear hamdania for work, always wear a ghutra and agal 
  • Buy a kandura only based on how it feels; ask questions about the fabric and understand what you are buying
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
The biog

Hometown: Cairo

Age: 37

Favourite TV series: The Handmaid’s Tale, Black Mirror

Favourite anime series: Death Note, One Piece and Hellsing

Favourite book: Designing Brand Identity, Fifth Edition

'Brazen'

Director: Monika Mitchell

Starring: Alyssa Milano, Sam Page, Colleen Wheeler

Rating: 3/5

Five expert hiking tips
    Always check the weather forecast before setting off Make sure you have plenty of water Set off early to avoid sudden weather changes in the afternoon Wear appropriate clothing and footwear Take your litter home with you
MATCH INFO

Asian Champions League, last 16, first leg:

Al Ain 2 Al Duhail 4

Second leg:

Tuesday, Abdullah bin Khalifa Stadium, Doha. Kick off 7.30pm

Real estate tokenisation project

Dubai launched the pilot phase of its real estate tokenisation project last month.

The initiative focuses on converting real estate assets into digital tokens recorded on blockchain technology and helps in streamlining the process of buying, selling and investing, the Dubai Land Department said.

Dubai’s real estate tokenisation market is projected to reach Dh60 billion ($16.33 billion) by 2033, representing 7 per cent of the emirate’s total property transactions, according to the DLD.

SPEC%20SHEET%3A%20APPLE%20M3%20MACBOOK%20AIR%20(13%22)
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EProcessor%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Apple%20M3%2C%208-core%20CPU%2C%20up%20to%2010-core%20CPU%2C%2016-core%20Neural%20Engine%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EDisplay%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%2013.6-inch%20Liquid%20Retina%2C%202560%20x%201664%2C%20224ppi%2C%20500%20nits%2C%20True%20Tone%2C%20wide%20colour%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EMemory%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%208%2F16%2F24GB%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EStorage%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20256%2F512GB%20%2F%201%2F2TB%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EI%2FO%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Thunderbolt%203%2FUSB-4%20(2)%2C%203.5mm%20audio%2C%20Touch%20ID%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EConnectivity%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Wi-Fi%206E%2C%20Bluetooth%205.3%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EBattery%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%2052.6Wh%20lithium-polymer%2C%20up%20to%2018%20hours%2C%20MagSafe%20charging%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ECamera%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%201080p%20FaceTime%20HD%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EVideo%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Support%20for%20Apple%20ProRes%2C%20HDR%20with%20Dolby%20Vision%2C%20HDR10%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EAudio%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%204-speaker%20system%2C%20wide%20stereo%2C%20support%20for%20Dolby%20Atmos%2C%20Spatial%20Audio%20and%20dynamic%20head%20tracking%20(with%20AirPods)%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EColours%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Midnight%2C%20silver%2C%20space%20grey%2C%20starlight%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EIn%20the%20box%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20MacBook%20Air%2C%2030W%2F35W%20dual-port%2F70w%20power%20adapter%2C%20USB-C-to-MagSafe%20cable%2C%202%20Apple%20stickers%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EPrice%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20From%20Dh4%2C599%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
While you're here
Asia Cup Qualifier

Venue: Kuala Lumpur

Result: Winners play at Asia Cup in Dubai and Abu Dhabi in September

Fixtures:

Wed Aug 29: Malaysia v Hong Kong, Nepal v Oman, UAE v Singapore

Thu Aug 30: UAE v Nepal, Hong Kong v Singapore, Malaysia v Oman

Sat Sep 1: UAE v Hong Kong, Oman v Singapore, Malaysia v Nepal

Sun Sep 2: Hong Kong v Oman, Malaysia v UAE, Nepal v Singapore

Tue Sep 4: Malaysia v Singapore, UAE v Oman, Nepal v Hong Kong

Thu Sep 6: Final

 

Asia Cup

Venue: Dubai and Abu Dhabi

Schedule: Sep 15-28

Teams: Afghanistan, Bangladesh, India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, plus the winner of the Qualifier

Call of Duty: Black Ops 6

Developer: Treyarch, Raven Software
Publisher:  Activision
Console: PlayStation 4 & 5, Windows, Xbox One & Series X/S
Rating: 3.5/5

Know before you go
  • Jebel Akhdar is a two-hour drive from Muscat airport or a six-hour drive from Dubai. It’s impossible to visit by car unless you have a 4x4. Phone ahead to the hotel to arrange a transfer.
  • If you’re driving, make sure your insurance covers Oman.
  • By air: Budget airlines Air Arabia, Flydubai and SalamAir offer direct routes to Muscat from the UAE.
  • Tourists from the Emirates (UAE nationals not included) must apply for an Omani visa online before arrival at evisa.rop.gov.om. The process typically takes several days.
  • Flash floods are probable due to the terrain and a lack of drainage. Always check the weather before venturing into any canyons or other remote areas and identify a plan of escape that includes high ground, shelter and parking where your car won’t be overtaken by sudden downpours.

 

The First Monday in May
Director:
Andrew Rossi
Starring: Anna Wintour, Karl Lagerfeld, John Paul Gaultier, Rihanna
Three stars

Milestones on the road to union

1970

October 26: Bahrain withdraws from a proposal to create a federation of nine with the seven Trucial States and Qatar. 

December: Ahmed Al Suwaidi visits New York to discuss potential UN membership.

1971

March 1:  Alex Douglas Hume, Conservative foreign secretary confirms that Britain will leave the Gulf and “strongly supports” the creation of a Union of Arab Emirates.

July 12: Historic meeting at which Sheikh Zayed and Sheikh Rashid make a binding agreement to create what will become the UAE.

July 18: It is announced that the UAE will be formed from six emirates, with a proposed constitution signed. RAK is not yet part of the agreement.

August 6:  The fifth anniversary of Sheikh Zayed becoming Ruler of Abu Dhabi, with official celebrations deferred until later in the year.

August 15: Bahrain becomes independent.

September 3: Qatar becomes independent.

November 23-25: Meeting with Sheikh Zayed and Sheikh Rashid and senior British officials to fix December 2 as date of creation of the UAE.

November 29:  At 5.30pm Iranian forces seize the Greater and Lesser Tunbs by force.

November 30: Despite  a power sharing agreement, Tehran takes full control of Abu Musa. 

November 31: UK officials visit all six participating Emirates to formally end the Trucial States treaties

December 2: 11am, Dubai. New Supreme Council formally elects Sheikh Zayed as President. Treaty of Friendship signed with the UK. 11.30am. Flag raising ceremony at Union House and Al Manhal Palace in Abu Dhabi witnessed by Sheikh Khalifa, then Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi.

December 6: Arab League formally admits the UAE. The first British Ambassador presents his credentials to Sheikh Zayed.

December 9: UAE joins the United Nations.

Going grey? A stylist's advice

If you’re going to go grey, a great style, well-cared for hair (in a sleek, classy style, like a bob), and a young spirit and attitude go a long way, says Maria Dowling, founder of the Maria Dowling Salon in Dubai.
It’s easier to go grey from a lighter colour, so you may want to do that first. And this is the time to try a shorter style, she advises. Then a stylist can introduce highlights, start lightening up the roots, and let it fade out. Once it’s entirely grey, a purple shampoo will prevent yellowing.
“Get professional help – there’s no other way to go around it,” she says. “And don’t just let it grow out because that looks really bad. Put effort into it: properly condition, straighten, get regular trims, make sure it’s glossy.”

Getting%20there%20and%20where%20to%20stay
%3Cp%3EEtihad%20Airways%20operates%20seasonal%20flights%20from%20Abu%20Dhabi%20to%20Nice%20C%C3%B4te%20d'Azur%20Airport.%20Services%20depart%20the%20UAE%20on%20Wednesdays%20and%20Sundays%20with%20outbound%20flights%20stopping%20briefly%20in%20Rome%2C%20return%20flights%20are%20non-stop.%20Fares%20start%20from%20Dh3%2C315%2C%20flights%20operate%20until%20September%2018%2C%202022.%C2%A0%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3EThe%20Radisson%20Blu%20Hotel%20Nice%20offers%20a%20western%20location%20right%20on%20Promenade%20des%20Anglais%20with%20rooms%20overlooking%20the%20Bay%20of%20Angels.%20Stays%20are%20priced%20from%20%E2%82%AC101%20(%24114)%2C%20including%20taxes.%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3C%2Fp%3E%0A