The newborn, by Nadia Kamel

Born to a Egyptian Jewish father and an Italian Christian mother, they met in Egypt in the twenties of the last century, married, and lived there. She was born and lived in Cairo, joined the communist movement and underground work, went to prison, loved an Egyptian journalist and activist, and they married. She worked as a journalist supporting women's causes, and during that time, she supported her husband—especially when he was persecuted by the authorities and isolated—and she became a mother, raising her two daughters and grandchildren. But the life of "Naela Kamel," born "Marie Ellie Rosenthal," and her personality, defy any simple classification offered by these brief summaries. In this enjoyable book, we move to another Egypt that no longer exists, with its conditions and people, and we go back with Marie to the years of prison, comrades-in-arms, difficult choices, tough stances, and discover how she raised her daughters Nadia and Dina, and how she navigated her relationships with her mother’s and father’s families, her husband, and her grandchildren amid environments of segregation based on religion, race, and gender. An exceptional book about the unique life of an inspiring Egyptian woman. Number of pages: 552.