Fountain of the Drowning

In this historical novel, prize-winning author Reem Bassioney tells a complex love story set against the backdrop of drastic social and political change. History, tradition, and mysticism are intertwined to weave a tale of adoration and loss, domination and suppression, victory and defeat.

Fountain of the Drowning is a multi-layered narrative set in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, a period when Egypt witnessed dramatic events, from the construction of the Suez Canal to the British occupation, which brought about rapid modernization and the Europeanization of social norms. Against this tumultuous background, a romance develops between Galila, and Hassan, her black servant and protector, who struggles against prejudice and the limits imposed by his status within society.

As it tells the story of the two lovers, the novel paints a vivid panorama of Egyptian society and its transformation: a thriving cotton trade is born, girls' schools are founded, slavery is abolished, ant the city of Cairo is rebuilt on a European model. The novel touches upon a multitude of universal themes, such as acceptance and rejection, forgiveness and revenge, and most importantly the question of agency: Do we have the power to shape the course of our lives?