Two difficult novels set in Alexandria

The first is Charles Kingsley's "Hypatia" (1853) which deals with the life & times of the female pagan philosopher, who lived & taught in Alexandria. There were many intolerant Catholics in the fifth century (like the ones conducting the later Spanish Inquisition) who finally lynched her. The book, though a best-seller when first published, makes heavy reading now in the 21st Century, because of the endless conflicts & discussions between the Pagans, Jews & Christians.

The second is Lawrence Durrell's "Alexandria Quartet" (1962) consisting of four novels, which the author says form a "word continuum", for which he adopted the "relativity proposition". So the first three novels deal with the three dimensions of the same events, seen through three different viewpoints & the fourth taking the story forward though time. This also, though a best seller, is a difficult read.