French Clouds is a historical novel that tells the story of a transitional phase in the history of both Egypt and France. At the beginning of the nineteenth century, as the French army of occupation leaves Egypt, a group of Egyptians led by al-Maallim Yaqoub flee with them to Marseille, and attempt to integrate in French society. The historical Yaqoub is a controversial figure in Egyptian history, having cooperated with the French invaders in Egypt. Some historians believe he was working towards independence and see him as a rebel against Ottoman injustice, while others see his efforts as a form of collaboration with colonialism. The fictional characters of the novel and the figure of Yaqoub pose questions of national and religious identity, revolution, independence, and freedom. The novel discusses the embryonic thrust for Egyptian independence and points to the earliest attempts to reconstitute Egypt in the mould of a modern independent republic, with equality and liberty for all. These concepts were developed and discussed in the twentieth century through the writings of Taha Hussein, Tawfiq al-Hakim, and Yahya Haqqi.