WHEN THE NARRATOR receives an invitation to visit Egypt as the guest of the French Embassy in Cairo, he anticipates a boring week of literary discussions and official dinners. He certainly does not foresee the extraordinary events that will ultimately lead to murder.
His fellow author—Martin Millet—seems determined to stir up the tensions that underlie the politeness of Egyptian society. He offends Islamic sensibilities with his views on art and the novel, and worse: his entire stay degenerates into an obsessive search for an Egyptian woman willing to have sex with him.
As the narrator finds himself dragged ever deeper into Millet’s obsessions, he begins not only to fear for his own and Millet’s safety, but for the future of Western civilisation.
When Millet disappears, he inevitably fears the worst …

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FLORIAN ZELLER is arguably France’s most famous twenty-six year old. He is the author of three critically acclaimed novels; the recipient of numerous literary awards, a university lecturer, and a journalist for Paris-Match and Vogue … Florian Zeller’s third novel Fascination of Evil is a bestseller in France and received the prestigious Prix Interallié. Florian Zeller is also winner of the Hachette Foundation Literary Prize for his first novel Neiges Artificielles; and the New Writer Award from the Prince Pierre of Monaco Foundation.

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TRANSLATED BY Sue Dyson
Cover illustration: Street in Old Cairo circa 1900 Robert L Bracklow
REPRINT edition ISBN 978 1 906548 04 9