One of the world's most multicultural cities, early 20th century Cairo was a magnet for ambitious and talented women, who came to dominate the Egyptian entertainment industry between the wars—as stars of the stage and screen, but also as entrepreneurs, owners, and promoters of a strikingly modern entertainment industry. In this illustrated history, Raphael Cormack profiles independent, enterprising women like vaudeville star Rose al-Youssef; nightclub singer Mounira al-Mahdiyya; and her great rival, Oum Kalthoum, while analyzing the causes and effects of this time of freedom and cultural upheaval.