Revolution and Roses

London: Jonathan Cape, 1957

The place of this novel – P.H. Newby’s tenth – is Alexandria, its period the week leading up to King Farouk’s abdication, its cast English, Greek and Egyptian, its action swift and exciting.

It begins with Eric Blainey’s meeting with his half-brother Tim, just arrived from England. Eric is by now an old Alexandrian, married to Lydia, the daughter of Paulos Dragoumis, coffee merchant by profession, political philosopher by preference. He finds Tim in the company of a woman journalist, Elaine, who sees the revolutionary situation as a wonderful opportunity for her. The trouble is, she lacks an entry visa.

Eric, anxious to be helpful, tries to smuggle her and Tim ashore in a launch. On landing the party is arrested by Mahmoud Yehia, one of the revolutionary officers, who eases but simultaneously complicates matters by falling instantly in love with Elaine.


Buy It Now


Covers

Return to Books


Agents and Witnesses

1947Novel

The Spirit of Jem

1947Childrens’ Lit.

Mariner Dances

1948Novel

The Loot Runners

1949Childrens’ Lit.

The Snow Pasture

1949Novel

Maria Edgeworth

1950Non-fiction

The Young May Moon

1950Novel

A Season in England

1951Novel

The Novel, 1945-1950

1951Non-fiction

A Step to Silence

1952Novel

The Retreat

1953Novel

Picnic at Sakkara

1955Novel

Revolution and Roses

1957Novel

Ten Miles From Anywhere

1958Short Stories

A Guest and His Going

1959Novel

The Barbary Light

1962Novel

One of the Founders

1965Novel

Something to Answer For

1968Novel
Booker Prize Winner

A Lot to Ask

1973Novel

Kith

1977Novel

The Egypt Story

1979Non-fiction

Warrior Pharaohs

1980Non-fiction

Feelings Have Changed

1981Novel

Saladin in His Time

1983Non-fiction

Leaning in the Wind

1986Novel

Coming in with the Tide

1991Novel

Something About Women

1995Novel