In Their Father’s Country

About the Book

Claire and Gabrielle Sahli are sisters growing up in 1920s Cairo. Of Levantine descent, they occupy a precarious position in Egypt’s increasingly nationalist world. With the early death of their father, the sisters find themselves dependent on others as they attempt to maintain their positions in a volatile society.

Over the decades, against the backdrop of anti-British sentiment, civil unrest, and Gamal Abdel Nasser’s socialist rule, the Sahlis cling to their homes and livelihoods in Cairo.

Tracing the lives of Claire and Gabrielle from childhood to old age, Anne-Marie Drosso vividly portrays the bittersweet relationship of two intelligent, complex women forced to adapt, each in her own way, to the unexpected.

About the Author

Anne-Marie Drosso was born in Cairo. She left Egypt in her twenties for Canada, where she studied, taught and worked in the legal field, and then lived in London. She is the author of In Their Father's Country (Telegram) and Cairo Stories (Telegram). She now lives in Pacific Grove, California.

Reviews

'Tracing the lives of Claire and Gabrielle from childhood to old age, Anne Marie Drosso brings to vivid life the bittersweet relationship of two intelligent, complex women forced to adapt to the unexpected. The book is a vivid portrait of early 20th century Egyptian life.'
The Middle East in London

'Anne Marie Drosso has a simple, open prose style and is good at pinpointing moments of emotional resonance in her characters' lives ... her stories draw memorable pictures.'
New Statesman