Midaq Alley / The Thief and the Dogs / Miramar: 3-Novel Book Club Omnibus Edition [B1168]

1989 PB reprint of three novels originally published from 1947 to 1967. Naguib Mahfouz (1911-2006) was an Egyptian writer who won the 1988 Nobel Prize in Literature. In awarding the prize, the Swedish Academy described him as a writer "who, through works rich in nuance - now clear-sightedly realistic, now evocatively ambiguous - has formed an Arabian narrative art that applies to all mankind". All of his novels are set in Egypt, and always mention the concept of "the lane" as a microcosm of the world.

Considered by many to be Mahfouz's best novel, Midaq Alley centers around the residents of one of the hustling, teeming back alleys of Cairo; Miramar is tale of intersecting lives that provides us with a portrait of life in Egypt in the late 1960's; and The Thief and the Dogs depicts the fate of a Marxist thief, who has been released from prison and plans revenge.

From Amazon/GoodReads reviews: "Naguib Mahfouz is one the most poetic writers ever. These three novels are extraordinary in their depth and simplicity. Midaq Alley is a haunting slice of life in an Egyptian neighborhood. The Thief and the Dogs is a story that reads like a fine poem. Miramar is what Instance of the Fingerpost could have been: the same story told from the perspective of 5 different people involved, brilliantly laid out, fascinating and heartbreaking. Mr. Mahfouz's work is a must for everyone!"; "A fine edition collecting three novels by the foremost Arabic language writer known outside of the Middle East. Egyptian novelist and journalist Naguib Mahfouz had the exceptional fortune of breaking into the Western world and reorienting Western readers' understanding of what the Middle East was like. This collection brings together three novels from three different phases of Mahfouz's career as a novelist. All in all, this is a very enjoyable volume for someone who wants to be a bit adventurous in their reading."; "Mahfouz seems to have a dim view of humanity. The first two stories show man at his worst while the last story tells of Egypt's sad plight. The author's style is sad, but very readable. He won the 1988 Nobel Prize for literature. Painful reading, worthwhile reading."; "Superb writing from a master. Beautifully complex and nuanced characters."