Harris, Lillian Craig
Dr. Harris’s travels gave her insights on many of the key themes relevant to political debate in Egypt today––the genesis of political malaise and extremism, economic fragility and the wealth gap, terrorism, threats to the environment and to Egypt’s rich cultural heritage, and perennial social issues such as the Muslim-Christian divide, women’s rights, population pressures, and leprosy. Enriching the book is the personal spiritual lens through which Lillian Harris views her experiences. She provides a unique picture of Egypt and Egyptians at a crucial period of Egypt’s modern history.
The fifty-seven short essays in this book set the scene for the difficulties that now threaten Egypt. They were written during 1990–1995 while Lillian Harris, a former American Foreign Service officer married to Alan Goulty, a British diplomat, lived in Cairo.
The essays explore Egypt’s cities, deserts, societies, monasteries, and...