A Cloudy Day on the West Side

Mohamed Mansi Qandil

A Cloudy Day on the West Side

In his novel A Cloudy Day on the West Side (Dar El-Shorouk, Cairo, 2009), Mohamed Mansi Qandil evokes the period of great archaeological discovery and nationalist struggle in Egypt. The novel tells the story of a young girl taken from home by her mother when she is forced to flee her abusive husband. After changing her name and fastening a crucifix around her tiny arm, the mother leaves her daughter at a village in Asyut. The fate of the girl, who grows up to become a translator, intersects with that of a number of historical figures from the period, including Howard Carter, Lord Cromer and Abdulrahman al-Rifa'i. This thrilling tale is brought to life by the author's detailed and vivid descriptions of real historical events and places.

Nomination

2010 Shortlist