The Fortieth Door

"The Fortieth Door" by Mary Hastings Bradley is a story about a man named Jack Ryder working as an excavator in Cairo who finds himself caught up in a difficult romance. He meets Aimée at a masked ball, an enchanting Turkish woman who is supposed to marry a powerful general named Hamdi Bey. Jack, who had been convinced to attend the ball by an engaging tourist named Jinny Jeffries, dances with the mysterious Aimée and feels an instant connection. Their attraction is complicated by Aimée’s family obligations, which force her into a marriage she doesn’t want. This sets up a story full of cultural conflict and forbidden love.