The Halva-Maker: The Fatimid Trilogy
by Reem Bassiouney
Generations of pastry makers experience a turbulent era in Egyptian history The novel “Al-Halawani” is a historical narrative that delves into a significant period in the life of the Arab history, when the region faced the challenges of the Crusader attacks, the emergence of heroes, and the endurance of severe hardships. The novel is divided into three stories. The first story recounts the arrival of the Fatimids in Egypt from Tunisia and the life history of the leader Jawhar Al-Siqilli, who built the city of Cairo. The second story is about the Al-Mustansiriya Famine or the famines that occurred in Egypt during the time of the Fatimid Caliph Al-Mustansir and how they ravaged the Egyptian population until the leader Badr Al-Jamali came to save Egypt from the famine, re-dividing its provinces, and building the current walls of Cairo. In the third story, the novel touches on the rise to power of Salah Al-Din Al-Ayyubi, the escalating threat of the Crusaders, and the end of the Fatimid state in Egypt. The novel depicts also the role of Arab women in confronting the Crusaders and enduring famines and dangers.
