One of Egypt's pyramids has just passed away. Literature Nobel Prize winner Naguib Mahfouz died this morning after he was admitted to the hospital last month. He was 94.
Mahfouz is the first Arab writer to win the Nobel prize. One of his most famous novels was his masterpiece "Awlad Haretna" or "The Children of our alley." The book was attacked by the religious authority when it was published over 40 years ago. It was accused of being blasphemous and propagating athiesm. It was banned from being published in Egypt. In 1994, a member of a terrorist group who didn't even read the book stabbed Mahfouz damaging nerves leading to his right arm seriously impairing his ability to write.
Imported copies of Awlad Haretna continued to be available in very few bookstores and over the internet. A decision to lift the ban was taken last year. Mahfouz though insisted that a moderate religious thinker write the novel's introduction as well as get the official approval of the highest religious authority. Several intellectuals criticized Mahfouz for this yet it seems that the great man who knows Egypt just as he knows the palm of his hand knew that a religious seal of approval is a must if the book is to be released to the public.
Awlad Haretna is now available everywhere.
Today Egypt lost one of its great sons. Someone who, just like Ahmed Zewail, made every Egyptian proud. R.I.P Naguib Mahfouz.
God Bless Mahfouz!
Comment by lala — August 30, 2006 @ 9:16 am
I have read several of Mahfouz’ novels. He was a great writer and a good man !! May God bless his soul.
Comment by Paul — August 30, 2006 @ 11:42 am
Naguib Mahfouz Has Died
I highly recommend that you read them all, but I think my personal preference would be to read The Harafish and Children of the Alley first - no particular reason here other than simple personal preference.
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Pingback by Naguib Mahfouz er død - Lars Akerhaug — August 30, 2006 @ 2:10 pm
Allah Yer7amou. My favourite novel of all time is his trilogy,”Baynal Qasrain”,”Qasr el Sho2″,and “Soukkariyya”.
Comment by Abdulkarim — August 30, 2006 @ 7:29 pm
Thank you. He was the best of his generation-and probably this one. JS
Comment by jsandi — August 30, 2006 @ 9:54 pm
Thank you. He was the best of his generation-and probably this one. JS
Comment by jsandi — August 30, 2006 @ 9:54 pm
Farewell to our beloved Naguib Mahfouz
Naguib Mahfouz and Om Kolthoum, devout son and daughter of Egypt, are the unparallel giants of Egyptian art and soul who enriched our lives like no other.
Like millions of people world-wide, I am extremely saddened by the passing of Naguib Mahfouz, the creator of Ahmad Abd El-Gawwad and his family in “The Trilogy”, the story-teller of humanity’s “Children of the Alley”, the stoned public servant in “Chatter on the Nile”, Egypt turbulent recent history in “Miramar”, the simple Egyptian common man in the “The Black Cat Bar” (at the height of Gamal Abd El Nasser dictatorship), who had to endure trauma and humiliation both physical and psychological from an ignorant fanatic criminal minority in Egypt incapable of understanding or appreciating the colossus that was Naguib Mahfouz.
I invite everyone to enjoy reading Naguib Mahfouz’s work as a farewell gesture to the departed friend that will finally lay to rest in the heart of his beloved Egypt.
Naguib Mahfouz, may you rest in Peace
Comment by Red — August 31, 2006 @ 10:36 pm
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Pingback by toot: The Arab blog network » Blog Archive » Naguib Mahfouz, Rest in Peace — August 31, 2006 @ 11:00 pm
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