Alexandria, Egypt

Egypt's chief port, Alexandria provides the primary setting for the novel Miramar. Coming home to it after a long career in Cairo, retired journalist Amer Wagdi nostalgically calls it "Lady of the Dew" (pg. 1.) Alexandria is a three-hour drive from Cairo and trains run regularly between the cities. Both means of transportation are pictured. Alexandria has a Mediterranean climate. Winters, when this novel is primarily set, are mild and rainy and intervals of bright sunshine are appreciated. The streets and squares are deserted at night. Driving rain storms are depicted to set off particularly dramatic events, and there are occasional patches of fog for atmosphere.

Along the Corniche, the promenade that runs along the coastline, it is colder and windier than in less exposed portions of the city. The famous boardwalk section features upscale restaurants, including the often-mentioned Atheneos, various shops, and the Genevoise, an up-scale...