Ahdaf Soueif
The Map of Love is a beauitul Victorian era love story between young English widow Anna Winterbourne and Egyptian Sharif Basha al-Baroudi. It was moving and inspiring to follow their story as their love overcame so many obstacles: colonialism, poliltics and prejudice.
A subplot has Anna's American great-granddaughter also falling in love with an Egyptian man.
This was a gorgeous, sumptuous love story told amid so much political and historical background that it felt real; almost as if I were reading a biography. Perhaps the fact that much of story was told through excerpts of Anna's fictional diary was, in part, responsible for creating that feelng.
The author was incredibly skillful at speaking in the voice of her characters, whether speaking in the voice of Anna through her diary, or that of modern-day Egyptian, Amal. I'm sure this also helped lend an air of reality to the book.
This was a terrific read; one in which the reader can really become immersed.
