The image displays the title page and frontispiece of Mohammed Ali and His House: An Historical Romance, a 19th-century novel written by German author Luise Mühlbach (the pseudonym of Clara Mundt). This specific edition was translated by Chapman Coleman and published in New York by W. R. Caldwell & Co. in 1912 (denoted by the Roman numerals MCMXII).
Plot Summary
The novel is a dramatized historical romance tracking the meteoric
rise to power of Muhammad Ali Pasha, widely recognized as the founder of modern Egypt. [
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- Early Ambitions: The narrative opens during his early life in Kavalla, Greece, where he works as a bold, determined tobacco merchant harboring grand dreams of leadership and valor.
- Personal Life & Romance: It heavily weaves in his deep personal relationships, particularly his romance and marriage with Fatima, a supportive and wise woman who stands by his side as a primary confidante.
- Historical Milestones: The backdrop chronicles his eventual conquest, modernization of Egypt, complex political maneuvers, and his pivotal interactions with Napoleon Bonaparte during the French campaign in the Middle East.
The left-hand page features an illustration depicting a dramatic moment accompanied by the caption:
“It seemed to him that her form suddenly rose from her cold grave in the waves.”
This mirrors the highly stylized, emotional, and poetic tone characteristic of Mühlbach's historical fiction.