“There is nothing wrong with romanticizing Cairo.” Mai Eldib on her book ‘Cairo Eternal’ and what makes Cairo magical.

The Lighthouse Conversations with Hashem Montasser

Cairo, mon amour! This week Hashem catches up with Sotheby’s veteran Mai Eldib, whose recent book release ‘Cairo Eternal’ was instantly sought after even by the iconic Fifi Abdou. Hashem and Mai bond over their experiences in Cairo—from overbearing doormen to the perpetual noise factor. Leaving giddiness aside, they agree that what makes Cairo magical, beyond its vast history and layered complexity, is the communal mindset of its people.

Links

• Mohamed Elshahed on tracing Cairo’s human experience, one building at a time
• Nadia Wassef on narrative structure, trafficking in nostalgia and life after publishing a debut memoir