OUT OF EGYPT

Egypt provided homes and livelihoods for many Sephardic, or Mediterranean, Jews in the early twentieth century. Andre Aciman tells the story of his family's life in Egypt from the early 1900's, through WWII and Egypt's battle with Israel for the Suez Canal in 1956, to their gradual departure between 1956 and 1960 when unrest and increased persecution became unbearable. Geoffrey Howard reads this biography in gentle, informed tones that make him seem as knowledgeable as the author. Howard's tongue twists effortlessly around the French, Italian, German, Ladino and Arabic that is scattered throughout the story of these multilingual people. Aciman and Howard bring the sights and sounds of this lesser-known world to life. M.B.K. ©AudioFile, Portland, Maine [Published: APR/MAY 97]