A review by aindrila
The Buried: An Archaeology of the Egyptian Revolution by Peter Hessler

informative reflective fast-paced

4.0

So strange to read a book about a city you’re currently living in down to the street and recognising the places (and significantly one of neighbourhood character) the author describes! I’m glad I read this book a year and a half into living in Cairo as I was able to read the book and of Egyptian politics from an already informed perspective. Nevertheless, the book was incredibly enjoyable, and the personalities and histories are described so vividly. 

The one thing to criticise was the sections on the archaeology. At times they were interesting when related to the impact of the revolution, especially in the south, or the continuity between ancient and modern Egypt. Otherwise, it felt sometimes disjointed or interruptive in the middle of an interesting political development or anecdote about a character.