Promotional Information

In 1988 Naguib Mahfouz became the first Arab writer to receive the Nobel Prize in Literature. While Mahfouz is first and foremost a storyteller, he gives the reader an extra baksheesh by telling stories of persons from all walks of life. Gordon conducted personal interviews with Mahfouz over the past ten years, probing the existential themes in the characters, plots, and issues raised in Mahfouz's stories. The result is an intimate and highly personal look at life in Egypt.

Table of Contents

Introduction Flight From Freedom Flight From Confrontation The "Niggar" Situation of Egyptian Women Joy in Life and Love of This World Degradation of True Faith Flight from Political Realities Coping with the Absurdity of Existence Mahfouz's Spiritual Contribution Appendix: Mahfouz's Life, His Works, and the Critical Reaction Selected Bibliography Index

About the Author

HAIM GORDON is Senior Lecturer, Department of Education, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Israel. He is the author of Make Room for Dreams: Spiritual Challenges to Zionism (Greenwood Press, 1989) and other books, scholarly papers, and book reviews. He has also contributed articles to Religious Education, the Journal of Jewish Studies, and Educational Theory.