Publisher's Synopsis
The present essay encapsulates a blend of anticipation and reality as Mahfouz's characters navigate through a world full of conflicts, dreams, and letdowns. It seeks to explain the intricate relationship between personal aspirations and the broader historical context while elucidating the techniques and motifs employed by Mahfouz to showcase the unattainable essence of storytelling and the transformation of human life in an increasingly volatile environment.
Naguib Mahfouz (1911-2006), Nobel laureate and Egypt's most celebrated literary figure crafted a profound legacy that intertwines the complexities of human existence with the evolving soul of Cairo. "Naguib Mahfouz: Chronicles Of A Cairo Dream" attempts to cover the life and legacy of the Egyptian Nobel Prize Winner in its full depth. He is perhaps the most renowned author from Egypt, and this work is blended for readers of world literature, post-colonial studies and Egypt's socio-political history (...) Mahfouz's influence extends beyond literature. His works were adapted into successful films, contributing significantly to Egypt's golden age of cinema.The volume offers context to the life of Mahfouz's characters, weaving them with real human existence, which makes them iconic. This book helps the readers understand the complexity of the characters and themes of Mahfouz. Along with offering a captivating narrative, this critically praised piece of work is a must-read for anyone wanting to understand the impact Mahfouz had not just on Egyptian literature but the entire world. (From Hichem Karoui's Preface).
