Mai El-Maghraby

The work is a fictional exploration of rural-urban migration from Upper Egypt to Gheit el-Enab in Alexandria. The area had been a gateway to Alexandria from the mid 19th century to the mid-1970s. The novel relates the changes it underwent up to 2018 when it was classified as a “slum” whose inhabitants yearned for a dignified life. One of these is Intisar who was born in the 1970s. Through her eyes, we learn the history, follow the transformation in value and status of the place across generations, and how this affected its inhabitants’ customs and behaviors, as well as other parts of the city. We are also introduced to residents whose ancestors were embarrassed to relate the stories of their migration, and we learn of the villages they had left behind. All these diverse threads lead us to a deeper understanding of Alexandria and a perspective that contrasts starkly with the official historical narrative.