Seven Days in Al Tahrir is the first novel to be written about Egypt's January 25 revolution. After reading it, you feel as if you participated in the revolution, even if you didn't, as you relive the memories of the struggle. In Seven Days in Al Tahrir, published by the Egyptian Lebanese Publishing House, Egyptian novelist and writer Hisham el-Khashen narrates or rather recalls the tensest seven days of the revolution in Al Tahrir Square in central Cairo through the eyes of many characters – poor, rich, old, young, Muslims and Copts. The main plot of el-Khashen's novel revolves around Egyptian sweethearts Bassem and Shereen, who are among the organisers of the revolution, while the subplots deal with other characters and their stories, which flow smoothly in parallel to the lovers' story. The action takes place in Hussein Hegazi Street off Qasr Al-Aini Street, near Al Tahrir Square, where all these characters gather and forget all about their trivial differences and daily problems for the sake of one goal: ridding their country of a 30-year old regime, controlled by a corrupt government, headed by a weak ruler. In Hussein Hegazi Street, we are introduced to all the characters one by one, until they fuse into one solid whole, chanting “Long live Egypt!” The reader is then made aware of everyone's reason for joining in the revolution, in addition to the primary goal – saving their country. As well as Bassem and Shereen's story, there is the story of Abdel-Hamid, a member of the then ruling National Democratic Party (NDP), who marries Ilham the orfi (unregistered) way. The marriage receives the blessing of Ilham's parents, because it will rid them of the spectre of poverty that haunts them. But when the revolution erupts, Abdel-Hamid reveals his true, opportunist character. He escapes on the first flight abroad with his first wife, leaving Ilham to face the music on her own. A shocked Ilham then throws herself heart and soul into the revolution, thinking of this as a way of breaking all her bonds with this selfish member of the NDP. Then there is Ramez, a law graduate hoping to get a job in the Public Prosecutor's office; but of course under the corrupt regime this is impossible, as he's a Christian. Ramez's father, Maged, a physician, decides to migrate to Canada with his family when the revolution erupts. On their way to Cairo Airport, Ramez has a change of heart. He insists on staying in Egypt. He says goodbye to his family and returns to Al Tahrir, where for the first time he feels that he is an Egyptian citizen and that he must play his part in Hosni Mubarak's downfall. There is also Sherif, an officer cadet in the Police Academy, who feels the shame and disgrace of having a brother, Adel, in State Security. As the revolution progresses, Sherif also has a change of heart and it is the Battle of the Camel in particular that makes him decide to apply for the Faculty of Law. The fact that his brother makes fun of the young revolutionaries reinforces his decision. As for another character in the novel, Khaled el-Sayyed, married to Carole from America, by whom he has two children, Sara and Adam, he is a self-made man who struggles to become one of Egypt's top businessmen. Despite his humble background, his stance towards the revolution remains ambivalent. Unsure whether to accept or reject it, he finally does agree to become a part of it, as he witnesses events escalating. Finally, we meet Abdallah, a member of the Muslim Brotherhood, whom Bassem invites to join in the revolution. But, because of the way the infamous State Security Agency treats the Brotherhood, he hesitates. “May God be with you all Bassem and help you beat the corruption,” Abdallah tells his friend. But the patriotism of the young Egyptians and all the sacrifices they make force him to join in wholeheartedly. However, he's soon relegated to the sidelines when his continual chanting of “Islamiya, Islamiya!” makes him persona non grata with the other youths. Yet when it comes to the safety of his friends and other nationalists prepared to die for their country, Abdullah enters into the fray again, helping to free his country from its corrupt ruler. In Seven Days in Al Tahrir, his second novel after What's behind the Doors?, el-Khashen chooses his characters carefully, so that the reader can easily understand what's going on. He stresses that they all come from different backgrounds, which is why the revolution was so successful. His style is straightforward and unsophisticated.
