"The book is a reflection of the society it describes, and of the period in which it was written. All societies need to justify themselves, and it is hard to think of any possible way of justifying British imperial society without some racial content. In fact, if Lord Edward had had the opportunity to tone down the book, it would probably have reflected less accurately some awkward truths in this area, and might well have been less valuable by that fact. Lord Edward certainly makes fun of Egyptians, but his humour is just as much at the expense of expatriate British, both residents and visitors, and of many others. Humour is often cruel, and we tend to find cruel humour funny. So I think humour needs to be judged by its comic success, not by its accordance with our political or moral principles."- from the 2008 Introduction.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
The lighter side of Empire,
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This review is from: The Leisure of an Egyptian Official (Lives & Letters) (Paperback)
Edward Cecil's account of his years as an advisor to the "Malia" (Finance Department) of the Egyptian Government is one of the funniest travel books ever written - I have read it repeatedly and howled with laughter each time. A younger son of Victorian Prime Minister Lord Salisbury, Cecil thoroughly believed in the philosophy of Empire and Kipling's idea of the "white man's burden." His racist characterizations of natives undoubtedly make modern Egyptians bristle, but he is equally merciless to his own people and class. Whether observing his befuddled servant Suleiman the Untruthful, mocking the robotlike demeanor of Imperial German diplomats, tweaking Egyptian Cabinet ministers with an insatiable lust for new office furniture, or describing the empty-headed British emigres who frequented his social circle, Cecil was a keen observer with a manic sense of humor. In one of his few serious moments he includes a brief biography of Lord Kitchener, whom he worked for and greatly admired, and it is regrettable that Cecil, like his idol, died prematurely, before he could write more than this small book.
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars
Leisure indeed,
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This review is from: The Leisure of an Egyptian Official (Lives & Letters) (Paperback)
Edward Cecil had a well-deserved reputation as a wit and this posthumously-published book demonstrates his talent in full measure. I laughed out loud at some of his hilarious descriptions of life as a British official in the Egyptian government of the late 19th century.
Like most writers of his time, he gives the Egyptians little credit for anything while accepting as virtuous the Empire's occupation of Egypt. He doesn't attempt any examination of the complex issues surrounding the occupation but that isn't his goal with the book anyway (Farman, Blunt, and others do that to varying degrees outside of Cromer). Cecil doesn't spare his fatuous, stiff colleagues either. He's an equal opportunity skewerer and would perhaps have run with the Monty Python crowd in our day (well, maybe not). It's mostly a very light romp through colonial bureaucracy.
5.0 out of 5 stars
Wonderful wit,
This review is from: The Leisure of an Egyptian Official (Lives & Letters) (Paperback)
This book is a classic. One of the truly great wits of his time reflecting on the exotic world of late nineteenth century Egypt. His description of Egyptian civil servants and the German ambassador reduced me to tears of laughter. A wonderful, wonderful read which welcomes you back for refresher reads
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