Dreamers of the day : a novel

Dreamers of the day : a novel / Mary Doria Russell.— New York : Random House, c2008.

253 p. : ill. ; 25 cm.

ISBN: 9781400064717

1. Bell, Gertrude Lowthian, 1868-1926 -- Fiction. 2. Churchill, Winston, Sir, 1874-1965 -- Fiction. 3. Historical fiction. 4. Lawrence, T. E. (Thomas Edward), 1888-1935 -- Fiction. 5. Middle East --History --1914-1923 -- Fiction. 6. Women teachers -- Fiction.

813.54

The only member of her family to survive the influenza pandemic of 1918, former fifth grade schoolteacher Agnes Shanklin and her dachshund Rosie set off from Cleveland, Ohio on a cruse to Egypt “…to escape from the sadness.” She arrives in 1921 to find the local population in a state of agitated turmoil over the impending meeting of their new British governors. They are torn between a desire to kill the Secretary of State for the Colonies, Mr. Churchill and admiration and awe for the war hero who did so much to liberate the Arabs them from the rule of the Turks, Colonel Lawrence. She also arrives to find that dogs are not welcome in first-class hotels in Cairo.

Fortunately, she is rescued from her predicament by members of the very same English that are causing such a stir, Gertrude Bell and T.E. Lawrence. She soon makes the acquaintance of Winston Churchill and a very charming German gentleman who proves to be a very attentive friend and sympathetic listener. Thus the author skillfully sets the stage to portray the men and women who literally shaped the modern Middle East. As the fictional Miss Shanklin puts it, “my little story has become your history.” She might have added, “and your current struggles.”

Dreamers of the day is a fascinating work of historical fiction and an extremely satisfying read.