e-Book The Mamur Zapt The Return of the Carpet (Mamur Zapt Mysteries) download

by Michael Pearce

ISBN: 1890208779
ISBN13: 978-1890208776
Language: English
Publisher: Poisoned Pen Press (November 1, 2001)
Pages: 200
Category: Genre Fiction
Subategory: Literature

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ePub size: 1789 kb
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Rating: 4.8
Votes: 415
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The Mamur Zapt is funny and engaging, while far too good to be true regarding the political and discrimination . It may be that the eponymous Mamur Zapt becomes more interesting in one of the next fourteen!!! books. He could hardly become less.

The Mamur Zapt is funny and engaging, while far too good to be true regarding the political and discrimination aspects.

The Mamur Zapt, already a bit separate as a Welshman among the English military rulers, walks a tightrope between all the factions, with a keen insight into human nature, no matter what the culture, and how to persuade people to do what needs to be done. This book is the first in a long series about the Mamur Zapt (chief of the political police) of Cairo. This particular book is a bit slow and tedious, but is worth reading to get the characters straight. The subsequent books are much better, in fact they improve steadily as you get further into the series.

When the Mamur Zapt, British head of Cairo’s secret police, begins to investigate, he finds himself in a race against a deadly group of terrorists to protect the city from a catastrophic attack.

The Mamur Zapt, head of Cairo's CID in the heyday of (the indirect) British rule, focused on political, not police, matters. With the bustling new century, the loosening of imperial ties, and the rise of nationalism, his was a busy office

A Mamur Zapt Mystery. There really was a National newspaper called al Liwa and in 1908 Kitchener’s famous screw-gun battery really did accompany the Return of the Carpet

A Mamur Zapt Mystery. There really was a National newspaper called al Liwa and in 1908 Kitchener’s famous screw-gun battery really did accompany the Return of the Carpet. Come quickly, effendi! he said. Bimbashi McPhee wants you at once.

The Mamur Zapt and the return of the Carpet. Author: Michael Pearce. Chapter 12. Chapter 23. Chapter 34.

Michael Pearce's Mamur Zapt mysteries are funny, beautifully written sketches of life in Egypt in the early years of the 20th century. The books have all the panache and originality of Dashiell Hammett and Raymond Chandler.

He met Mahmoud at the bridge and they walked into the barracks together ge, old-fashioned building with la. .

He met Mahmoud at the bridge and they walked into the barracks together ge, old-fashioned building with lattices and sentry-boxes. Their way to it took them past a vast, sanded parade ground on which soldiers were drilling. A squad approached them along the edge of the square. As it passed, the drilling sergeant gave them an eyes-right. Owen, who was in Army uniform, acknowledged with a salute. His eye took in their hot, strained faces.

Owen, Gareth Cadwallader (Fictitious character) - Fiction. Police - Egypt - Cairo - Fiction. British - Egypt - Fiction. Cairo (Egypt) - Fiction.

With the bustling new century, the loosening of imperial ties, and the rise of nationalism, his was a busy office. Похожие книги: The Night of the Dog. Michael Pearce "Each scene .

Fans of Elizabeth Peters will view Egypt through a different lens—but the real flavor of this 14-book series is Graham Greene or, given Pearce’s sense of irony, Eric Ambler....The Mamur Zapt, head of Cairo’s CID in the heydey of (the indirect) British rule, focused on political, not police, matters. With the bustling new century, the loosening of imperial ties, and the rise of nationalism, his was a busy office. The attempted assassination of a veteran politician raises the spectre of a major terrorist statement at the capital’s principal religious festival where the faithful celebrate the Return of the Holy Carpet from Mecca.Easily navigating multiple nationalities, three principal languages, and four competing legal systems, not to mention the intricacies of shadow and actual governments, Captain Owen, the Welsh incumbent, bolsters the Mamur Zapt’s office with the aid of a host of memorable characters.In his 1988 debut, Michael Pearce, who grew up in the (then) Anglo-Egyptian Sudan, “memorably navigates the swirling cultural and political cross-currents of his chosen period and place, bringing to an historian’s confidence the creative intelligence of a born novelist.” —John Coleman, Sunday Times

Comments:

inform

I have found a new law enforcer to add to my FAVORITE list - The Mamur Zapt. Finished the first book of the 15 (so far) book series and am halfway through the second. Michael Pearce lived in Anglo-Egyptian Sudan and writes about the area culture of the early 1900's under British occupation. Beginning in 1908, and probably ending in 1924 (when the British left and the Egyptians took over), this series looks like a wonderful picture of Todays problems in the area. Still the same infighting between religions and politics. The Mamur Zapt (head of the Regional CIA and a Welshman) walks a fine line between his job and relations with the Egyptian police forces, as well as the Khadiv and the British head. The picture of life is so real that the reader feels transported to this time with all of its heat, both temperature and political. One could go to Cairo today and feel that the Mamur Zapt would be just around the corner. Number 16 will be published in August - I'll be waiting.

Zan

I stumbled on Michael Pearce through his Sandor Seymour mysteries (Dead Man in Tangier (A Dead Man in...)), through which I found his "Mamur Zapt" mysteries.
Part historcial fiction, part political mystery, Pearce does a solid job of showing the political and social complexities of fin de sicle Egypt.

The Mamur Zapt was a title given to a "special investigator" acting on behalf of the British government in Egypt under the Khedive. In this first book of the series, the Mamur Zapt is charged with protecting the "return of the carpet" - the large, black cloth that covers the Ka'ba at the annual hajj, which is returned to Cairo at the conclusion of Ramadan. It is in need of protection, as various indigenous political groups seek to use the parade and celebration as an opportunity to make a statement, possibly by lobbing grenades stolen from a British armoury. This crisis is exacerbated by the overlapping authorities of the British, the French and the Ottomans (under whom Egypt technically still belongs.)

I was particularly struck with Pearces' nuance in highlighting not only the internal politics of Egypt at the time (nationalists, pan-Arabists, religious fundamentalists) but also the delicate nature of managing the crisis given the interests of Ottomans and European imperialists. That each group manipulated the laws and grey area that was a part of the political realities of the time is to be expected - Pearce clearly has a deep understanding of the place and time. Likewise, Pearce shows the various social and economic differences of the Near East, not only in terms of rural / urban sensibilities, but also in terms of the way in which women dressed and interacted with men, and the subtle cultural cues within households.

It was disappointing, then, that the mystery itself was such a let down. The plot moved slowly, and the final resolution was anti-climactic. As Pearce's first book, I am willing to cut him a little slack, as I know his writing can be (and, as demonstrated in the Seymour mysteries, is) better. Still, as much as I enjoy his later work, I can only give his debut mystery a mediocre rating.

Orevise

Book one of the Mamur Zapt series is a well-written and intriguing book of turn-of-the-century Cairo. The Mamur Zapt is head of the British secret police, but not secret in the sense that no one knows of him or the agency for which he works. Rather, he is in charge of political investigations and along those lines of keeping the peace among the various nationalities and factions. A wry sense of humor adds to the enjoyment of this book.

Anarus

We had a family friend who was a judge on the mixed tribunal, Judge Pierre Crabites, a bit later than these tales, but Judge Crabites also wrote some interesting books about the Egyptian Sudan. I can't remember who told me to read Pearce, but I thoroughly enjoy his books.

Honeirsil

So many unusual names and titles, and I had trouble keeping them all straight. Even the lead character, the Mamur Zapt, has his first name revealed without comment over half way through the book, leading me to wonder whom this new character might be. With further books in the series I plan to keep a running list, such as one needs for War and Peace.

And, I will be reading more. The writing was wonderful, the atmosphere intense, and each time I put this book down it was with the anticipation of picking it up again.

The political background is fascinating, the social background equally so, especially in terms of Egyptian women.

This is Egypt on the cusp of becoming its own country again - still dealing with British and French and Turkish influences and power. Budding Nationalism, the educated young stirring.

Yet old traditions survive, such as the wonderful ceremonies connected to The Return of the Carpet of the title.

The Mamur Zapt, already a bit separate as a Welshman among the English military rulers, walks a tightrope between all the factions, with a keen insight into human nature, no matter what the culture, and how to persuade people to do what needs to be done.

Eigeni

This book is the first in a long series about the Mamur Zapt (chief of the political police) of Cairo. This particular book is a bit slow and tedious, but is worth reading to get the characters straight. The subsequent books are much better, in fact they improve steadily as you get further into the series. Their best feature is their characterization of the English officials, and their tedious meetings, which are described hilariously. The principal deficiency is the lack of maps - not every one is familiar with the street plan of early 20th century Cairo!

Frei

Pearce credibly tells of a world long gone and ideas that are out of date and yet carry an eerie relevance to todays world. Besides that he tells a thumping good mystery with appealing and interesting characters.

fictional story that is set in a very real historic time period. great fun!