Welcome
to Parthian, publishers of fiction, poetry and drama.
Into
Suez is an absorbing new novel by Stevie Davies, who has been long-listed
for both the Booker prize and the Orange prize (twice) with earlier novels.
The story revolves around Ailsa, Mona and Ailsa’s husband, Joe who is a sergeant in the RAF stationed in Egypt in 1949 as part of an army of occupation. Ailsa travels to Suez on the Empire Glory with their young daughter Nia. On board the cruise-liner she develops a friendship with Mona, the exotic renegade wife of an officer. Mona is a talented pianist and a free spirit already constrained by the restrictions of post-war Britain. The journey to Suez is a release for both women. Once in Egypt the friendship strengthens against a background of growing tension as the nationalist movement gains momentum to throw away the bonds of the colonial authority while the women take risks with their own friendship and ordered lives.
Joe is caught between the changes in a world he is struggling to understand. His wife wants more freedom, echoing the needs of the country he thought he was supposed to be defending. He distrusts Mona and her strange husband who is unlike any officer he has ever met. When he tries to call his wife to order, there are devastating consequences for both of them.
Into Suez is a novel about love and relationships and the choices we make when forced to decide.
Stevie Davies will be reading from her new book at the Dylan Thomas Centre, Swansea, on the 9th of March and at the Church Stretton Bookshop on the 10th of May. She will be also appearing in a number of high profile festivals including the Hay festival.
Listen to Stevie talking about her experience of Egypt
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