In Egypt, hibiscus is universally known as Karkadeh, a deeply cherished national beverage made from the dried crimson calyces of the Hibiscus sabdariffa plant. Historically traced back to the Pharaohs, who consumed it for therapeutic purposes, it serves as a symbol of Egyptian hospitality and is regularly served as a welcome drink.
And this book welcomes you to Egypt is the most beautiful and imaginative way.
“Rich with historical detail and debate. Egypt emerges as the true heroine of this novel” said the independent and it is an accurate description.
If you like an intellectual novel, that is both challenging and enigmatic this is a book for you. Whilst it did not win the Booker Prize 1999 you can see why it was nominated.
Don’t be put off by the title “The Map of Love” is not a Mills and Boon incarnation, it is more political and historical and weaves the too into life culture and the human experience across continents and generations in a way I don’t think I have ever experienced before.
The story centres around a Victorian trunk filled with journals and curiosities, that tell the story of an Englishwomen, a young widow Lady Anna Winterbourne who in her grief has an expatriate experience with her maid Emily whilst the British Empire rule and the “Talking Classes” “the natives” fight for their own democracy and freedom from said empire.
It is as subtle as it is graceful in the writing, the author Ahdaf Souief a political analyst and commentator of the very best kind, able to educate through literary storytelling without forcing judgement or opinion.
When lady Anna, guised as a man is abducted she meets Layla her Egyptian equivalent, a lady of great standing whose family has suffered at the hands of the British rule, headed by Lord Cromer at the time.
It’s a story more about friendship than love in the romantic sense although it is filled with passion, for life, art, music and culture.
The trunk is the central character 100 years later when the great granddaughters of Layla and Anna (and spoiler) distant cousins, one in New York City, Isabel Parkman and one in Cairo the narrator Amal al-Ghamrawi piece together the story of their ancestors and discover the truth about what really happened all those years ago.
A compelling and exciting page turner that will make you want to travel to Egypt and experience this magical place filled with wisdom, tradition and beauty for yourself.
It really is a wonderful read and why nothing can beat the companionship of a good book.
The booker prize is awarded every year. Around 150 to 160 books from publisher submissions are initially considered for the Booker Prize each year. From this starting pool, the judging panel of five which changes annually and is selected from a cross section of people, not just writers but musicians, actors, artists, poets, journalist, reads every book to compile the "Booker Dozen" (12 or 13 longlisted books), which is then whittled down to a shortlist of six, from which the winner is selected.
The judges in 1999, picked Disgrace by J.M. Coetzee as the winner of the booker prize but the committee concluded The Map Of Love was the most “readable” that year.