A classic Mahfouz story exploring themes of marriage across class lines, spirituality, and the harsh realities of a precarious life Jaafar Ibrahim Sayyed al-Rawi, the main character in this most recently translated Mahfouz novel, is guidedby his motto, “let life be filled with holy madness to the last breath.” He narrates his life story to a friend during one long night in a café in old Cairo. Through a series of bad decisions, he has lost everything: his family, his position in society, and his fortune. A man driven by his passions, he married a beautiful Bedouin nomad for love, and as a consequence pays a punishingly high price. From a life of comfort with a promising future guaranteed by his wealthy grandfather, he descends to the spartan life of a pauper, after being disinherited. Jaafar faces his tribulations with surprising stoicism and hope, sustained by his strong convictions, his spirituality, his sense of mission, and his deep desire to bring social justice to his people.
Naguib Mahfouz (1911–2006) was born in the crowded Cairo district of Gamaliya. He wrote nearly 40 novel-length works, plus hundreds of short stories and numerous screenplays. He was awarded the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1988.
Aida Bamia is professor emerita of Arabic language and literature at the University of Florida at Gainesville. She is the translator of Papa Sartre by Ali Bader (AUC Press, 2009).
Adrift on the Nile
ISBN 978 977 424 530 5 PaperbackAkhenaten, Dweller in Truth
ISBN 978 977 424 684 5 PaperbackArabian Nights and Days
ISBN 978 977 424 389 9 PaperbackAutumn Quail
ISBN 978 977 424 107 9 PaperbackBefore the Throne
ISBN 978 977 416 291 6 HardboundCairo Modern
ISBN 978 977 416 156 8 HardboundChildren of the Alley
ISBN 978 977 424 679 1 PaperbackDreams of Departure
ISBN 978 977 416 067 7 HardboundEchoes of an Autobiography
ISBN 978 977 424 406 3 HardboundIn the Time of Love
ISBN 978 977 416 386 9 HardboundKarnak Café
ISBN 978 977 416 603 7 PaperbackKhan al-Khalili
ISBN 978 977 416 191 9 HardboundKhufu’s Wisdom
ISBN 978 977 424 806 1 HardboundKhufu’s Wisdom
ISBN 978 977 416 032 5 PaperbackLife’s Wisdom
ISBN 978 977 416 020 2 HardboundLove in the Rain
ISBN 978 977 416 452 1 HardboundMidaq Alley
ISBN 978 977 424 058 4 PaperbackMidaq Alley
ISBN 978 977 416 483 5 HardboundMiramar
ISBN 978 977 424 091 1 PaperbackMirrors
ISBN 978 977 424 533 6 HardboundMorning and Evening Talk
ISBN 978 977 416 099 8 HardboundPalace of Desire
ISBN 978 977 424 440 7 HardboundPalace of Desire
ISBN 978 977 424 682 1 PaperbackPalace Walk
ISBN 978 977 424 681 4 PaperbackRespected Sir
ISBN 978 977 424 164 2 PaperbackRhadopis of Nubia
ISBN 978 977 424 808 5 HardboundRhadopis of Nubia
ISBN 978 977 416 030 1 PaperbackSugar Street
ISBN 978 977 424 442 1 HardboundSugar Street
ISBN 978 977 424 683 8 PaperbackThe Beggar
ISBN 978 977 424 135 2 PaperbackThe Beginning and the End
ISBN 978 977 424 112 3 PaperbackThe Cairo Trilogy
ISBN 978 977 424 688 3 HardboundThe Coffeehouse
ISBN 978 977 416 351 7 HardboundThe Day the Leader Was Killed
ISBN 978 977 424 685 2 PaperbackThe Dreams
ISBN 978 977 416 604 4 PaperbackThe Final Hour
ISBN 978 977 416 388 3 HardboundThe Harafish
ISBN 978 977 424 680 7 PaperbackThe Journey of Ibn Fattouma
ISBN 978 977 424 444 5 PaperbackThe Mirage
ISBN 978 977 416 265 7 HardboundThe Naguib Mahfouz Centennial Library
ISBN 978 977 416 503 0 HardboundThe Search
ISBN 978 977 424 160 4 PaperbackThe Seventh Heaven
ISBN 978 977 424 940 2 HardboundThe Seventh Heaven
ISBN 978 977 416 025 7 PaperbackThe Thief and the Dogs
ISBN 978 977 424 034 8 PaperbackThe Time and the Place and other stories
ISBN 978 977 424 374 5 PaperbackThe Wisdom of Naguib Mahfouz
ISBN 978 977 416 495 8 HardboundThebes at War
ISBN 978 977 424 807 8 HardboundThebes at War
ISBN 978 977 416 031 8 PaperbackVoices from the Other World
ISBN 978 977 416 029 5 PaperbackWedding Song
ISBN 978 977 424 018 8 Paperback
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