Chapter 1, Amer Wagdi Summary

After twenty years away, working as a journalist, 80-year old Amer Wagdi returns to his old residence in Alexandria's Miramar Pension, still owned by Mme. Mariana, an aging beauty. Amer recalls his late master, the Pasha, and all of the things that he should have recorded in memoirs. After comparing complaints about aging, Amer and Mariana plans a New Year's Eve celebration. Amer finds fellow lodger Tolba Marzuq, an embittered ideological opponent, annoying but avoids politics. Tolba and Mariana are long-ago lovers. Amer recalls him once arriving at a gala event drunk.

Amer admits beautiful Zohra when she comes asking for a job. Mariana, who is delighted to have a maid, shrugs off Amer's concern that Zohra's family may try to take her home and she proves to be a quick learner. Mariana dresses Zohra in fetching modern clothes...