Includes bibliographical references (pages 179-181) and index.

The Simaika family tree -- Chronology -- Acknowledgments -- Preface -- List of illustrations. Introduction / Donald M. Reid. Part 1 The early years : Cairo -- A love of learning -- A prominent family. Part 2 Service to government and nation : The state railways -- Education and legislation : The Superior Council of Education -- The Legislative COuncil and the Legislative Assembly -- Simaika and the British administrator : Lord Cromer (1883-1907) -- Sir Eldon Gorst (1907-11) -- Field Marshal Lord Kitchener (1911-14) -- Sir Henry McMahon (1914-17) -- Sir Reginald Wingate (1917-19) -- Lord Allenby (1919-25) -- Lord Lloyd (1925-29). Part 3 Service to the Coptic church and community : An ancient church : Monks and missionaries -- The Copts after the Arab conquests -- The rise of Coptic notables -- The patriarchs : Cyril IV (1854-61) -- Cyril V (1874-1927) -- Yohannes XIX (1928-42) -- The awakening of the Coptic church -- Al-Majlis al-Milli -- The Coptic and Ethiopian dispute over Deir al-Sultan in Jerusalem -- Travels in Sudan. Part 4 The Coptic Museum and heritage preservation : A crumbling heritage -- The Committee for the Preservation of Arab Art -- A new museum : The Mu'allaqa Church -- The Coptic Museum -- A state institution -- Searching for iniquities, saving libraries -- Recognition. Appendix: some Coptic social customs -- Selected bibliography -- Notes -- Index.

Draws upon Simaika's unpublished memoirs as well as on other documents and photographs from the Simaika family archive to deepen our understanding of several important themes of modern Egyptian history: the development of Coptic archaeology and heritage studies, Egyptian-British interactions during the colonial and semi-colonial eras, shifting balances in the interaction of clergymen and the lay Coptic community, and the ever-sensitive evolution of relations between Copts and their Muslim compatriots--