The Oud Player of Cairo

Vibrantly descriptive and evocative of the waning colonial world in Egypt during the mid-20th century, this debut historical novel by Jasmin Attia this is the compelling story of a young Egyptian woman, Laila, who defies the restrictive traditional roles set for women of that time, and instead follows the path inspired by her musician father, a much-beloved oud player, to become a singer and performer In her own right. After finding herself in a fairytale marriage that soon turns to a nightmare of adultery and abuse, she struggles to maintain her creative spirit, and falls into a passionate affair that puts her and her family in danger under the new oppressive regime, and with her life in danger, is forced to flee her beloved country. Jasmin Attia holds and MFA from Bennington College and Richly detailed and sensually evocative of the time in all the sights, sounds, and spice-laden aromas of Cairo in the mid-20th century, first novelist Jasmin Attia tells the story of a young Egyptian woman who breaks from the traditional mores of her time to follow her true, independent and creative spirit.