** 'Behind the veil are the frustrations, fads, fashions and fallibilities familiar to women the world over. Miles is a loving listener, whose understanding of the Islamic world is sharpened by tea and sympathy' THE TIMES ** 'Playing Cards mixes personal vignettes with an informed overview of Egyptian politics, and although unflinching about Cairo's problems, Miles shows his affection for this great city of every page.' FINANCIAL TIMES ** 'An intriguing read and, as an introduction to Egyptian life, it's fascinating' DAILY MAIL ** 'Miles should be applauded for telling their stories so compellingly, and for giving us such a detailed insight into their everyday lives.' SCOTSMAN ** 'Vivid with sympathy and amusement' NEW STATESMAN ** 'Mr Miles opens windows to a little- known side of Cairo in a way that carries a faint whiff of Waguih Ghali's wonderful 1964 book Beer in the Snooker Club. His anecdotes are enlightening (the girls exclaim with envy when told of an unmarried friend with an "elastic hymen" that seemingly never breaks) and, along the way, he conveys the sense and smell of Cairo' THE ECONOMIST ** 'The fascination of Playing Cards in Cairo lies in the constant interplay between the familiar and the exotic, the modern and the traditional, the delightful and the sinister.' THE GLOSS

Born in Saudi Arabia, Hugh Miles was educated in Libya and Eton and studied Arabic at Oxford and in the Yemen. He has written for the London Review of Books and the S. Times. He won The Times Young Journalist of the Year award in 2000.