MER Article Vatikiotis, Nasser and His Generation P. J. Vatikiotis, Nasser and His Generation (New York: St. Martins Press, 1978). Black Saturday -- the burning of Cairo on January 26, 1952 -- was a signal of the impending breakdown of the ancient regime. When Cairo went up in flames, so too did the last vestiges of authority held by the tradition Selma Botman • 1 min read