The Automobile Club of Egypt by Alaa Al Aswany

The Automobile Club of Egypt

Alaa Al Aswany

Set in 1950, this is both an engrossing family story and a picture of a society in turmoil as the old order changes and the families and colleagues working for The Automobile Club are pitted against each in unexpected ways. A great book for for a reading group discussion.

Extract

" Mr Wright, I have spent my whole life dealing with servants and I know them very well. They only work diligently if they are afraid. And they are only afraid if they feel that at any moment they can be punished, whether on justifiable grounds or not! If a man of the serving class.....thinks he can seek justice, if he feels he has rights, he will rebel immediately. Justice only corrupts..."

Parallels
  • A Rising Man by Abir Mukerjee
  • The Mamur Zapt and the Mark of the Pasha by Michael Pearce
  • The Remains of the Day by Kazuo Ishiguro
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Violence
Explicit sexual content