The Oud Player of Cairo
A Novel
9781639640409
372 pages
Schaffner Press Inc
Overview
Vibrantly descriptive and evocative of Egypt and Cairo during the final years of British colonial rule during the mid-20th century, this debut novel by Jasmin Attia tells the compelling story of a young Egyptian woman, Laila, who defies the restrictive traditional roles set for women at that time, and instead follows a path inspired by her musician father-a much-beloved oud player-to become a singer and performer in her own right. After extricating herself from an abusive marriage, Laila struggles to maintain her independence as a singer in Cairo's chic international nightclubs, and embarks on an affair that puts her in grave danger, forcing her to make a decision that will forever alter the course of her life.
Author Bio
Jasmin Attia is a 2021 graduate of the MFA program at Bennington College, and 2022 winner of the Nicholas Schaffner Award for Music in Literature. She has attended the Bread Loaf Writers' Conference, and served as a mentor for the Cream Literary Alliance in West Palm Beach. Her essays have appeared in The Writer's Chronicle, Lit Hub, Jewish Books Council's "Paper Brigade Daily, and other publications. She also holds a bachelor's degree in Finance from the University of Florida and an MBA from the University of Rochester. Jasmin lives with her family in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, and came to writing as a second career. The Oud Player of Cairo is her debut novel, and she is currently at work on a new novel set in Egypt.
