Dreamers of the Day: a Novel by Mary Doria Russell - 253 Pages

We are introduced to Agnes, Shanklin, a 5th grade school teacher from Ohio who has inherited a modest amount of money due to being the only member of her family to survive the great influenza epidemic of 1919. She decides to 'go outside the box' and travel to Egypt. There she meets T. E. Lawrence (Lawrence of Arabia), Winston Churchill, and Lady Gertrude Bell as they decide the fate of the Middle East during the 1921 Cairo Peace Conference. We follow her journey through Egypt discovering things about that country and her along the way. A wonderful and easy introduction to the problems that plague the Middle East today.

The novel provides a wide-ranging picture of what was happening politically in Egypt during the 1920's but is a quick read with enough detail that will encourage additional reading. The author does makes assumptions of the reader's knowledge of the historical significance of people and places but not to the point of confusion. The book has short chapters that carry the reader through a lot of material without bogging down and the colorful descriptions of Egypt and its people easily transport the reader to that important time.

The pace is compelling, moving the story at a steady pace. It progresses quickly, almost breezily but the details are extremely important. The tone provides a candid telling of all the players during that time and although the author may be on a soapbox from time to time, that doesn't deter from the pleasure of the story. The special feature of this book is that Agnes Shanklin is the reader -- listening to all sides of the argument and witnessing the decisions. It is left up to the reader to decide if it was right or wrong. What you need to know about this book is that it is a great introduction to one of the biggest pivot points in history. The acknowledgments at the back list books for further reading and the author's sources for the characters.

Similar works might be: People of the Book by Geraldine Brooks, The Greater Journey: Americans in Paris by David McCullough, The Paris Wife by Paula McLain, or The Postmistress by Sarah Blake.

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