Last Call, Cairo
Last Call, Cairo is a multiperiod novel, opening in 1913 and ending with a coda set in 2002, which evokes the ongoing attraction of Egypt. The story focuses on three key relationships: two love stories and one between a woman and refugee child. A passion for archaeology and a deep attachment to the Egyptian setting feature in one way or another with all but the child, who simply finds herself there. Most of the characters are English, and living in Egypt allows them to reinvent themselves. They cannot altogether avoid perils in the desert, however, ranging from deadly scorpions to the battlefields of Egypt during the North African campaigns of World War II. After Britain grants Egypt her full independence in 1952, the British remaining in Cairo must abandon their expat lives and feel doubtful of ever returning.
Early chapters are not chronological, but as the story unfolds they become so. Parts I and II appear to be completely separate stories, but Part III, set in 1997, brings some of the characters together. This novel is intricately plotted and gives a sense of Egypt through time. Julie Tulba has used her recent trip there, described in an afternote, to good effect, enhanced by her research. But the shifting time periods in Part I can be more confusing than purposeful, and a thorough edit would have eliminated wordiness and styling difficulties that interfere with a smooth flow. However, tensions build, especially toward the end, and the characters are engaging. Last Call, Cairo is an ambitious saga that conjures the power of ancient Egyptian culture and archaeology up to contemporary times.
