Book Meme

I saw this going around and knew it would be a matter of time:

Here are the meme rules:
1. Pick up the nearest book (of at least 123 pages).
2. Open the book to page 123.
3. Find the fifth sentence.
4. Post the next three sentences.
5. Tag five people.

OK

Photo credit: Bruce M. White Photo:Trustees of Princeton University.
"Alexandria." By Vivant Denon, Voyages dans la basse et la Haute Égypte, 3 vols.

Juan Cole. Farhad Manjoo. Ian Welsh.
Veyron and JC.