Naguib Mahfouz: The Pursuit of MeaningFirst Published in 2004. Naguib Mahfouz is one of the most important Arabic fiction writers of this century. Born in 1911, his long and prolific writing career represents the evolution of a novel genre in Arabic literature. His books are a record of the tragic tensions attendant on a nations's quest for freedom and modernity. In 1988 he won the Nobel Prize for Literature. This book provides a comprehensive study of Mahfouz's achievement. Rasheed El-Enany presents a systemic evaluation of the author's life and environment; local and foreign influences on him; elements of his thought and technique and the evolution of his craft. While each work is discussed individually, emphasis is laid throughout on elements of continuity in his work, whether thematic or aesthetic. In particular, Dr El-Enany challenges the traditional classification of Mahfouz's work into four chronological phases - historical, realist, modernist and indigenous or traditional. It is demonstrated that elements of these forms recur throughout Mahfouz's varied and experimental writings. This book is the story of Mahfouz's struggle to free his novels from the prevalent, predominantly Western moulds and to express his own socio-political thought. |
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1952 revolution A.T.Badr Ahmad Akhenaton alcAmma alHay’a alJabal appears Arabic Literature argues Atahaddath Ilaykum author’s beginning Beirut cAbbas cAbbasiyya cAbd alJawwad café Cairo CAshur cAyda chapter character childhood Children of Gebelawi collection critics culture cUthman death discussion early Egypt Egyptian episodic fact Fahmi fate father fiction Fountain and Tomb futuwwa Game of Fates Ghali Shukri God’s Hamida hara Harafish heart human Husayn Hyksos ibid Ibn Fattuma individual influence interview J.alGhitani Jacfar Jamaliyya Kamal Karnak Khan alKhalili later live man’s maqama meaning metaphor Midaq Alley Mirrors modern moral Muhammad Naguib Mahfouz Najib Mahfuz Nasser Nights novel novelist past pharallel play political portrayed protagonist published Qushtumur realistic reality regime religion religious Respected Sir Sacid Sasson Somekh scene seen sense sepharate Shaykh short stories social society sociopolitical sufi sufism symbolic takiyya technique theme translation Trilogy vision writing youth