Unknown Past: Layla Murad, the Jewish-Muslim Star of Egypt

Layla Murad (1918-1995) was a legendary Egyptian cinema star, known for her veneration and rumors, and the gendered questions that unsettled Egyptian society. Her life and career are explored in Hanan Hammad's book Unknown Past, which examines the rapid political and sociocultural changes she witnessed. Murad's career blossomed under the Egyptian monarchy and later gave a singing voice to the Free Officers and the 1952 Revolution.

Format: Hardback
Length: 328 pages
Publication date: 10 May 2022
Publisher: Stanford University Press

Layla Murad, the Cinderella of Egyptian cinema, captivated the hearts of audiences with her unparalleled career and the rumors that surrounded her. Born in 1918, she became the highest-paid star in Egypt, starring in 28 films that became classics in Arab musical cinema. However, her journey was not without challenges. In 1955, she was forced to stop acting, and it took her decades to make a comeback. Even today, decades after her death, public interest in her life continues, and new generations of Egyptians continue to love her work.

Hanan Hammad's book, Unknown Past, delves into Murad's extraordinary life and the rapid political and sociocultural changes she witnessed. The story is centered on Layla Murad's persona and legacy, and it is broadly framed around a gendered history of twentieth-century Egypt. Murad, a Jew who converted to Islam during the first Arab-Israeli war, found her career flourishing under the Egyptian monarchy. She later became a singing voice for the Free Officers and the 1952 Revolution. However, her cinematic career came to an abrupt end under Nasser on the eve of the 1956 Suez War.

Egyptians have long used interpretations of Murad's life to tell their national story, intertwining the individual and the Egyptian state and society to better understand Egyptian identity. As Unknown Past recounts, Murad's life is a perfect reflection of the tumultuous changes experienced over the dramatic decades of the mid-twentieth century.

Layla Murad's legacy continues to inspire and influence Egyptian culture, reminding us of the power of storytelling and the enduring impact of individuals on society. Her journey from a humble beginning to a cinematic icon is a testament to the resilience and determination of the human spirit.

Dimension: 229 x 152 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781503629424