Oud Player of Cairo

Vibrantly descriptive and evocative of the waning colonial world in Egypt during the mid-20th century, this debut historical novel by Jasmin Attia this is the compelling story of a young Egyptian woman, Laila, who defies the restrictive traditional roles set for women of that time, and instead follows the path inspired by her musician father, a much-beloved oud player, to become a singer and performer In her own right. After finding herself in a fairytale marriage that soon turns to a nightmare of adultery and abuse, she struggles to maintain her creative spirit, and falls into a passionate affair that puts her and her family in danger under the new oppressive regime, and with her life in danger, is forced to flee her beloved country.