For a long time I have been engaged in composing the history of my life. During every moment which I can snatch from public business, from the affairs of my people, I am attended by a secretary, whose sole employment is to write down what I dictate, in my own words; and to obviate the objections which might be urged against a history of so long a period, composed from recollection, I may remark that nature has endowed me with a very strong memory. I can describe, as if they occurred yesterday, events which took place forty years ago. In consequence, my biography will be very full. It will contain the history of my youth, before my arrival in Egypt. I shall describe the state of this country when I came into it; and all the events of any importance, which happened during my military expeditions in Nubia, Sennar, Kordofan, the Hejaz, and Syria."

Khaled Fahmy, All the Pasha_s Men_ Mehmed…, loc. 1684