Blending aspects of memoir, history, and travel narrative into an elegant and unique tapestry, Stothard uses the sights and sounds of the ancient city to reconnect with the experiences that shaped his life. Melancholy yet often humorous, Alexandria probingly deconstructs the enigma of modern Egypt-with its uneasy mix of classical touchstones and increasingly volatile Middle Eastern politics-and offers a first-hand glimpse into the fracturing state just before the Tahrir Square uprising and the start of the Arab Spring.