If an Egyptian Cannot Speak English

Winner of the Graywolf Press African Fiction Prize, Noor Naga’s experimental debut novel explores love, identity, and power against the backdrop of post-Arab Spring Cairo. Through alternating perspectives, it examines the complex dynamics of a romantic relationship between an Egyptian American woman and a displaced local man, highlighting the intersections of desire, empire, and cultural politics. The story delves into themes of longing, disappointment, and societal critique in a rapidly changing, globalized world.