Return of the Spirit, originally published in Arabic in 1933, is a novel focusing on the culture and social environment of Egypt leading up to the 1919 Egyptian Revolution. The novel portrays the spirit of the Egyptian people as it follows the lives of Muhsin and his uncles living in Cairo, who are all infatuated with their beautiful neighbor, Saniya. The family experiences a revolution of its own, in the conflict over Saniya and who should be the household “government.” The battle for Saniya is particularly awakening for Muhsin, who becomes enthralled with the spirit of Egypt's people and history as he grows older. Young Muhsin eventually travels to visit his wealthy parents in the country, where he forges a connection with the areas poor farmers. Muhsin's experience with all classes of Egyptians makes him attuned to the struggles of his people, and upon returning home he finds solidarity with the protestors in Cairo. He and his uncles, brought together after their heartbreak over Saniya, become a powerful voice for the resistance as the Revolution of 1919 unfolds. Tawfiq Al-Hakim's novel explains the social and cultural changes that spurred the resistance of the Egyptian people to British control in 1919.