From the acclaimed author ofRiver TownandOracle Bones, an intimate excavation of life in one of the world's oldest civilizations at a time of convulsive changeDrawn by an abiding fascination with Egypt's rich history and civilization, Peter Hessler moved with his wife and twin daughters to Cairo to explore a place that had a powerful hold over his imagination. He wanted to learn Arabic, explore Cairo's neighborhoods, research ancient history, and visit the legendary archeological digs. After years of covering China forThe New Yorker, friends warned him it would be a much quieter place. But just before his arrival, the Arab Spring had reached Egypt and the country was in chaos.In the midst of the revolution, he attached himself to an important archeological dig at a site rich in royal tombs known in asal-Madfuna,or "The Buried." He and his wife set out to master Arabic, striking up an important friendship with their language...