'The Return of Pharaoh' is the English version of Zainab al-Ghazali's prison memoirs. The book aims to expose to the world the cruelties and savagery he had to suffer at the hands of Nasir's regime. Zainab al-Ghazali was one of the leaders of the Muslim Brotherhood and the founder of the Muslim Ladies Group. While the Brotherhood had a pan-Islamic vision and worked to incorporate Islam as a way of life rather than a religion, the Muslim Ladies Group trained women for the same purpose and also participated in welfare and relief activities. The title of the book is extremely interesting; reflects the utter contempt in which the author holds Nasir, and vice versa. His hatred is so strong that he calls him “Pharaoh,” an ancient Egyptian king who declared himself God and persecuted people who believed otherwise. The title is not only attractive and intriguing, but also appropriate, as the book demonstrates many of Nasir's qualities that put him on par with Pharaoh himself. For example, instead of swearing by the name of Allah as most Muslims do, Nasir's associates swear “by (the might of) Nasir,” as if HE were their god. Nasir also believes in eliminating all opposition just like Pharaoh did. He imprisons, persecutes, and ultimately kills many members of the Brotherhood and their sympathizers. Although Muslim by name, Nasir opposed all those who carry the message of Islam and seek to ingrain it in their lives. The title could not be more appropriate, as the reader will gradually discover. The book begins with an attempt on Zainab's life, presumably by Nasir's forces. Later, the Muslim women's group is banned when Zainab rejects Nasir's offer to join the Socialist Union. He then engages in secret meetings with Muslims in h......middle of paper......ure. Zainab's undying courage in the face of countless terrible experiences in prison serves to prove the point she makes in the book. Perhaps the main reason I liked this book was the author's unwavering courage in the face of torture that even hurts some. read, let alone have to experience it first hand. Where men give up, this woman perseveres and, in the end, emerges as a stronger person, if that's even possible. The main appeal of the book is emotional, although valid logical arguments are also used. This book is also interesting because it shows us another face of Nasir - the so-called "champion of Arab nationalism" - who is also the enemy of pan-Islamism. The book is also proof that history repeats itself in modern Egypt. Works Cited Al Ghazali, Zainab. The Return of Pharaoh: Memoirs in Nasir's Prison. The Islamic Foundation, 2006. Pp. vii, 188.