Abstract
By the 1950s, the Suez Canal was crucial for Britain's trade in the Middle East, for its communication with overseas dependencies and for its containment of Soviet influence in Africa. The sudden nationalisation of the canal in July 1956 by Gamal Abdul Nasser, and the obstruction of British military intercession by the United States, struck a blow to the prestige of the nation that resonated in the work of British novelists for decades to come. This essay examines the discursive responses to the Suez Crisis in such texts as John Fowles' Daniel Martin (1977), Lawrence Durrell's The Alexandria Quartet (1957–60) and Olivia Manning's The Levant Trilogy (1977–80), analysing its links to orientalism, anti-Americanism, Cold War hostilities and fears about British national decline.
Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
