On July 1, 1798, when Napoleon Bonaparte landed in Alexandria, Egypt was in a state of suspended stagnation. But the cultural clash between West and East sparked Egypt's transformation into a modern state-and the Egyptian railways played a key role in this transformation.

Juxtaposing history, narrative, maps, art, and music, "Railways Along the Nile and the Renaissance of Modern Egypt (1798-1879)" relates the fascinating story of Egypt's rapid advancement. Looking well beyond the building of the railroads themselves, this story includes intriguing historical, social, political,...