Letters from Egypt

"Letters from Egypt" by Lady Lucie Duff Gordon is a collection of travel letters written in the mid-19th century. This work presents a vivid and personal account of her experiences as an expatriate in Egypt, providing insight into the culture, society, and people she encountered. Through her writing, readers are likely to gain an intimate understanding of both the beauty and the hardships of life along the Nile, as well as the author's reflections on her interactions with Egyptians of various backgrounds. The opening of the collection introduces Lady Duff Gordon's journey and her immediate impressions of Cairo, where she finds herself immersed in a vibrant world characterized by kindness and warmth in stark contrast to the poverty and social disparities that abound. Her letters portray her interactions with locals, the warmth of her servant Omar, and her observations of cultural practices, all while highlighting the contrasts between her privileged experience as a foreign woman and the day-to-day struggles of the native population. This blend of personal narrative and social commentary sets the stage for a broader exploration of her time in Egypt, revealing a curious and compassionate perspective as she navigates her new surroundings. (This is an automatically generated summary.)

Lucie, Lady Duff-Gordon was an English author and translator who wrote as Lucie Gordon. She is best known for her Letters from Egypt, 1863–1865 (1865) and Last Letters from Egypt (1875), most of which are addressed to her husband, Alexander Duff-Gordon, and her mother, Sarah Austin. Having moved in prominent literary circles in London, she contracted tuberculosis and travelled in 1861 to South Africa for health reasons. She travelled on to Egypt in 1862 where she settled in Luxor, learnt Arabic, and wrote many letters about Egyptian culture, religion, and customs. Her letters are notable for humour, outrage at the ruling Ottomans, and many personal stories from the people around her.