Amal is a middle-aged Egyptian woman living an isolated life in Cairo following the dissolution of her marriage. Her children live far away, leaving her with a quiet daily routine that is interrupted by a visitor from New York. She becomes intensely invested in translating and researching the historical journals found in a Victorian trunk.

Anna is a Victorian Englishwoman who travels to Egypt after the traumatic death of her first husband. Initially adhering strictly to British social customs, she discovers a desire for freedom that prompts her to disguise herself as a man to explore the desert. Her detailed letters and diaries provide a window into her shifting cultural perspectives.

Isabel is an American filmmaker and researcher traveling to Cairo to study global reactions to the impending millennium. She brings a chest of Victorian heirlooms to Egypt, hoping to trace the history of the objects. Her American optimism often clashes with the complex political realities she encounters in the Middle East.

Omar is a famous pianist and conductor who left Egypt as a young man to build his career in the United States. He is highly educated, charismatic, and actively follows Middle Eastern politics from afar. He views his new romance with caution due to the significant age gap between them.

Sharif is a cultured Egyptian intellectual and a member of the colonial era's educated class. He refuses to conform to societal expectations, having previously ended a marriage because he lacked an intellectual equal. He involves himself deeply in debates about education, colonialism, and Egyptian independence.

Layla is a warm Egyptian woman whose written accounts provide an Arabic perspective on the events occurring during the turn of the century. She manages her household while her husband is imprisoned for political reasons. She bridges cultural divides by speaking French with foreign visitors.

Edward is a British soldier whose participation in colonial violence deeply damages his mental health. He becomes increasingly reclusive and agitated upon returning to England. His deterioration heavily impacts his marriage and pushes his father to speak out against the empire.

Sir Charles is an outspoken British gentleman who strongly opposes his country's colonial practices in the Sudan and Egypt. He writes letters to national newspapers condemning wartime atrocities. He provides emotional support to his daughter-in-law after tragedy strikes their family.

Tareq is an agricultural businessman and a married man who aggressively pursues a relationship with an old friend. He uses his political connections to negotiate with government officials regarding closed village schools. His willingness to hire foreign laborers creates ideological friction within his social circle.

Jasmine is an elderly woman residing in an American nursing home while battling Alzheimer's disease. She takes pride in her appearance, though her fading memory limits her conversations to fragments of her past life in France and early marriage.

'Am Abu el-Ma'ati is a dignified elderly farmer whose family has long-standing ties to rural landowners. He travels to the city to report on escalating tensions between villagers and the government. He acts as a messenger and advocate for his rural community.

Tahiyya is the exhausted wife of an apartment building doorman. She manages a large family with an unhelpful husband and frequently seeks out her neighbor for conversation and support.

Sabir is an Egyptian guide hired to ensure the safety of foreign travelers. He faces severe consequences when his expedition is intercepted by radical political dissidents, forcing him to negotiate for his client's protection.

Emily is a British lady's maid who travels overseas for work. She holds tight to her English sensibilities and views the unfamiliar customs of the Middle East with suspicion and distaste.

Husni is an Egyptian political figure whose arrest spurs local dissidents into taking drastic retaliatory actions. He views his impending legal trial as a platform to publicize the grievances of the Egyptian people against colonial authorities.

Shukri Bey al-’Asali is a confident and charismatic Egyptian intellectual. He debates the encroaching powers of foreign empires and supports the push for national independence.