The Englishwoman in Egypt Letters from Cairo, Written During a Residence There in 1842, 3, & 4

"The Englishwoman in Egypt" by Sophia Lane Poole is a travel narrative that chronicles the author's time in Egypt during the 1840s, as she accompanies her brother, an Egyptologist. Through letters to a friend, Poole vividly describes her experiences navigating Egyptian culture and society, offering a unique perspective on local customs, especially the lives of women in Cairo. She shares her initial impressions of Alexandria, contrasting the European and Arab communities, and expresses curiosity about the conditions of women, setting the stage for a study of hareems and other cultural practices, painting a vivid picture of 19th-century Egyptian society through the eyes of a Western woman.