Circling the Square

The "story of the recent Egyptian revolution as experienced by Cairo's citizens. Steavenson takes us to the heart of the revolution and paints ... portraits of ordinary Egyptians grappling with hope and change amid violence and bloodshed. Here is Bakr, a young man from the slums with his homemade pistol; a seasoned observer who gives up on analysis; a leader who doesn't want to lead thrust uncomfortably into the spotlight; a Muslim Brotherhood politician trying to smooth over a restless parliament; and a military intelligence officer convinced that only the army can save Egypt"--Amazon.com.

Prize history

• Orwell Prize for Political Writing

  2016

  Orwell Prize for Books, before the 2019 split.

  Shortlist