Book Description:
Letters from Egypt by Lucie Duff-Gordon is a fascinating and intimate portrait of 19th-century Egyptian life, captured through a series of vivid personal letters. Written between 1862 and 1869 while living in Luxor for health reasons, Duff-Gordon’s correspondence offers a rare and sympathetic view of Egyptian society from the perspective of a European woman who lived not as a tourist or colonial figure, but as a thoughtful observer immersed in the local community.
Her letters explore village life, religion, law, politics, and human relationships with warmth, wit, and striking cultural sensitivity. Rather than imposing imperial judgment, Duff-Gordon reflects deeply on what she witnesses, forming close bonds with Egyptians of all backgrounds and advocating for their dignity and autonomy.
First published posthumously in 1865, Letters from Egypt stands as a unique contribution to Victorian travel literature and a testament to one woman’s radical empathy and cross-cultural insight.
