ABSTRACT

On 14th November 1914 Ṭāhā Ḥusain's long-cherished dream of being able to study in France came true, as he left Alexandria by ship on his first journey ever out of Egypt. He, together with a number of fellow students, were sent to Montpellier rather than to Paris, where they could study safely away from the dangers of war. For Ṭāhā, the journey meant the beginning of a completely new life. As soon as he was on board, he took off his Azhari garments in order to sport a Western suit.1