It Happened in Egypt

It Happened in Egypt was published in 1914 by Charles Norris Williamson (1859-1920) and Alice Muriel Williamson (1869-1933), the British husband-and-wife team who wrote popular novels together for many years. Their books often combined romance, mystery and detailed travel settings, and this one makes full use of the pleasures of the pre-war tourist trade in Egypt, where steamers carried well-off travellers up the Nile to see the temples and tombs.

The setting plays an important part in the novel. At the time, Egypt was a fashionable destination for wealthy visitors from Europe and America, and the authors capture the atmosphere of hotels, river boats and excursions. The plot brings together a lively cast of characters, among them Lord Ernest Borrow and Captain Anthony Fenton, who think they have discovered a secret that could make them wealthy, and a collection of eccentric travellers who complicate their plans. The authors are not above poking gentle fun at their characters, and the book combines suspense with a lightness of tone.

As in other works by the Williamsons, the story reflects the attitudes of its day, including its portrayal of local people and customs, and listeners may wish to keep that in mind. The pleasures of the book are those of a well-made piece of popular fiction: a quick-moving plot, vivid scenery and characters who stay in the memory.

The recording is by LibriVox volunteer Sibella Denton. It contains thirty-six files and lasts about thirteen hours and ten minutes. It is a generous and absorbing listen for a long holiday or a winter evening.