THE FRENCH-language downtown bookshop Les Livres de France has reopened after a five-month hiatus due to an unsuccessful law suit, writes Sherif Iskander Nakhla.

Les Livres de France was established in 1947 when its late owner, Yvette Farazly, came across a shop for sale at the corner of Qasr Al-Nil and Sherif Streets. If Farazly's main purpose in opening the bookshop was to make a living it was her love of books and reading kept it going. Fifty-six years have passed, Egyptian presidents have changed, revolution and wars have gone by and yet one can still walk to the corner of Qasr Al-Nil and Sherif and encounter a piece of modern Cairene history. The bookshop has remained one of Cairo's most cherished intellectual landmarks.

According to the current manager of the bookshop, Zeinab Badran, a day after Farazly passed away -- in fact during the funeral -- employees found locks on the door of the bookshop. A few days later Badran heard that red wax was to be applied to the front door. The shop was temporarily closed down as a law suit was contested.

Since winning the case Badran and the rest of the staff of Les Livres de France have been quite busy reorganising thebusiness. They have even opened a new branch in Maadi.