Egypt and the Middle East

Given the remarkable exciting events in Egypt, you should read as background The Yacoubian Building by Alaa al Aswany …… there is also a DVD.  More background to the Middle East is Levant by Philip Mansel about Alexandria, Beirut and Smyrna which is an excellent book.  More recently, Jerusalem – The Biography by Simon Sebag Montefiore which covers the period from the city’s foundation up to 1967.  It is not only very informative but a great read.