The history of Egypt from the Arab conquest in 639 to the present day introduces the reader to the central paradox of Egyptian identity - the alienation of the Egyptian from his rulers, who until 1952 were foreigners, and the continuity of an area with fixed boundaries which has existed for millenia. The first three chapters deal with the Arab conquest, the age of the mamluks and Egypt's incorporation into the Ottoman Empire, while the later part of the book examines the early development of the modern state under Muhammad Ali, the liberal experiment after 1922, the Nasser years and the legacy Nasser bequeathed to his successors, Sadat and Mubarak. The author has now updated the volume to consider Egypt's role in the Gulf War and the ways in which the government has dealt with an increase in terrorism. Now that President Mubarak has been elected for a third term, the author asks if a new, more liberal direction is possible in the face of continuing uncertainty.