Maadi: The Making and Unmaking of a Cairo Suburb, 1878–1962

by Annalise J K DeVries

A fresh perspective on the global economic influences that shaped modern Egypt through the history of an affluent Cairo suburb, Maadi

In the early years of the twentieth century, a group of Egypt’s real-estate and transportation moguls embarked on the creation of a new residential establishment south of Cairo. The development was to epitomize the latest in community planning, merging attributes of town and country to create an idyllic domestic retreat just a short train ride away from the busy city center. They called the new community Maadi, after the ancient village that had long stood on the eastern bank of the Nile.

Over the fifty years that followed, this new, modern Maadi would be associated with what many believed to be the best of modern spacious villas, lush gardens, popular athleticism, and, most of all, profitability. The Making and Unmaking of a Cairo Suburb, 1878–1962 explores Maadi's foundation and development, identifying how foreign economic privileges were integral to fashioning its idyllic qualities. While Maadi became home to influential Egyptians, including nationalists and royalty, it always remained exclusive—too exclusive to appeal to the growing number of lower-income Egyptians making homes in the capital. Annalise DeVries shows how Maadi’s history offers a fresh perspective on the global economic influences that shaped modern Egyptian history, as they helped configure not only the country’s politics but also the social and cultural practices of the well-to-do.

Ultimately the means of Maadi’s appeal also paved the path for its undoing. When foreign tax and legal privileges were abolished, Maadi, too, became untethered from a vision for Egypt’s future and instead appeared more and more as a figure of the country’s past.

264 pages, Hardcover

Published March 23, 2021

Reviews

[Dina · Rating 3 out of 5]

I don't think I would recommend this book to anyone who isn't interested in this super niche, incredibly specific book. It's heavy, academic, and incredibly dry, but as someone who is from Maadi, it's a really interesting look at it's colonial and imperialist roots. I will say, you can probably skim this pretty heavily and get the gist (and the utter depressive feeling of how much foreign influence and colonialism has affected every facet of Egyptian identity and everyday life). It gets repetitive after about chapter 2, and then picks up again at the penultimate chapter.

I did get a kick out of the acknowledgement section though, since I recognized people I used to work, interact, and go to school with (and even a collection I used to work on during my internship days!). I also think the author and I might have overlapped and met at one point...such a small world! 2.5 stars.

[Tamim Diaa · Rating 4 out of 5]

The book weaves the personal history of the people of Maadi in the broader political and economic history of Egypt. It uses Maadi as an example to show how imperial powers controlled the economy and politics of Egypt and how the tides turned and they lost this power gradually to local national politicians.

The writer did a great job in the research and writing of this book and made it an excellent complement to Samir Rafaat's book on the history of the neighborhood. As a person whose family is rooted in Maadi (on the other side, the villagers) and who has lived there for 25 years, the book connected some dots and provided important context and background to stories my family told about Maadi and gave it a lot of meaning. You never look at Maadi the same way you did before this book.

[يوسف عبداللطيف · Rating 4 out of 5]

The best part about "Maadi: The Making and Unmaking of a Cairo Suburb, 1878–1962" is that "Annalise J K DeVries" writes like a passionate insider turned dissident, not a corporate mouth. Authentic, raw, and hits directly where it counts.