Maktoub

Maktoub describes the events and politicalupheavals that changed the Middle Eastfrom the demise of the Ottoman Empire tothe eventual death of Colonel Nasser. These events are seen through the eyes ofPeter Angelakis, an Ottoman Greek who leftConstantinople for a more secure existence inBritish controlled Egypt. In Alexandria, Peter marries into a Lebanesefamily and the history of that period with allits upheavals unfolds through the lives of hisfour children. The second world War provided Peters eldestdaughter who is married to a British Officer,offers a peek into English reactions to EgyptianNationalism. It also acted as a catalyst to thefree Officers movement resulted in KingFarouks abdication. Peters second daughter Alexandra, marriesa Greek businessman who escaped fromcommunist Romania, and throws light intothe socialist nationalisations that eventuallywrecked the Egyptian economy. Peters two sons with his father-in-law areimmersed in the Egyptian interior and providesa picture of life at the time that includedacquiring business contacts; the reasons andresults of the burning of Cairo; the Suez attackand the disastrous six day war of 1967 untilthe death of Nasser in 1970. All the events, once they had occurred, themuslim population stoically accepted them. To them it was MAKTOUB (it is written).