Sad news today: Naguib Mahfouz, the first Arab Nobel laureaute has died at the age of 94 in a Cairo hospital. Mahfouz was a courageous writer, most famous for his 1988 Nobel Prize-winning Cairo trilogy: Palace Walk, Palace of Desire and Sugar Street. I first read his work in 1992 and now own several of his books.
Throughout his life, Mahfouz's writing about the foibles of Egyptian life invited controversy. In 1959, religious authorities banned publication of Children of Gebelawi, claiming it featured characters representing God and the Prophets. The book was published in Lebanon and later translated into English. In 1994, Mahfouz was stabbed in the neck by a Muslim militant, angered by his work.
Mahfouz published more than 30 novels, short stories, plays, newspaper columns, essays, travelogues, memoirs and political analyses. His last major work - The Seventh Heaven, a collection of stories about the afterlife, was published last year. In December Mahfouz told an Associated Press reporter that he wrote The Seventh Heaven because he "wanted to believe something good will happen to me after death." "Spirituality for me is of high importance and continuously provides inspiration for me," he said.
I've never heard of this writer, so thank you for making me aware of him. Imagine, to be stabbed in the neck at the age of 82(?) and to SURVIVE? Surely he MUST have had a strong spirituality.
Posted by: Marilyn | 04 September 2006 at 05:53
Colette, the dentist you are referring to is Alaa El-Aswany. He wrote a very controversial book called "The Yacobian Building." It was recently made into a film in Arabic.
Posted by: VMS | 31 August 2006 at 21:38
I love his books, but I haven't read The seveth heaven, I will now.
Posted by: Catalina | 31 August 2006 at 08:37
I hadn't heard of him either but such a long interesting life. I would like to read the book Seventh Heaven too & I am sure he is in Heaven now, knowing the whole meaning of life xox
Posted by: miss*R | 30 August 2006 at 23:16
So many things to comment on! First of all, I'm sad to read of Mahfouz' death. I'd read the first two books of the Cairo trilogy and liked them very much. I will now seek out the final volume. Second, I love your new banner! I so wanted to come to Paris for the Chinese New Year when they made the Eiffel Tower red (it was 2005, I think?) So now I can see it on your site, every day. And third, I haven't had a chance to keep current with recent Tara posts, but now I will. I'm so sorry I'll miss meeting you in October. Are you sure you really need to learn Spanish ;D?
Posted by: Laura | 30 August 2006 at 19:18
I have heard of Mahfouz but have never read his work. I'd love to put my hand on a copy of The Seventh Heaven as I am interested in his thoughts on spirituality.
Lovely new headmask! tres chic!
Nxxx
Posted by: Nina | 30 August 2006 at 17:52
I know nothing about him, but am amazed thinking about all the changes that someone born in 1911 would of seen and adapted to in his lifetime. That alone gives me pause.
And like Sophie, he's on my bookstore list.
Posted by: ally bean | 30 August 2006 at 17:10
That's sad news. Still, he had an admirable life. I read his books years ago; they were popular here. I'm eager to read his last book.
xox
Posted by: Colette | 30 August 2006 at 17:08
Oh no, this is sad news. I read his books when I worked at a bookstore all through college -- what a window into another world they were. I read an interview recently with a new Egyptian writer who's being celebrated for [I think] his first novel, and compared to Mahfouz in some ways -- for writing about life in Cairo. I know he's a dentist by day; don't remember his name.
Posted by: Laini | 30 August 2006 at 16:59
I have not read these books - so now
happily i will head out to a bookstore!!
Posted by: Sophie | 30 August 2006 at 16:53