Republic Of False Truths

From one of the foremost writers in the Arab world comes a new novel banned in his home country, Egypt--a devastating work of fiction about the Egyptian revolution, taking us inside the battle raging between those in power and those prepared to lay down their lives in the defense of freedom.

At the center of the story is General Alwany: a man who loves his family, a pious man--who nonetheless won't hesitate to torture or kill enemies of the state.

Under the repressive regime of Hosni Mubarak, Egypt is gripped by hypocrisy, cronyism, and a blatant disregard for truth and justice. Once-prominent intellectuals have withdrawn into a haze of hashish or, embittered, serve their former enemies. The impoverished masses suffer indignities in silence, pinning their hopes on their children. Now, however, the regime faces its greatest crisis. Idealistic young people from diverse backgrounds--engineers, teachers, medical students, even the general's own daughter--have come together to challenge the status quo. Mubarak is toppled. Euphoria fills the streets, and love blossoms across class divides. But the general and his friends are planning what could be a fatal counterattack.

With an unforgettably vivid cast of characters--some good, some evil, all quintessentially Egyptian--Al Aswany gives us a human portrait of the Egyptian Revolution, and an impassioned retelling of his country's turbulent recent history.