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The Beggar, The Thief and the Dogs, Autumn Quail
Anchor proudly presents a new omnibus volume of three novels--previously published separately by Anchor--by Naguib Mahfouz, winner of the Nobel Prize in Literature. Assembled here is a collection of Mahfouz's artful meditations on the vicissitudes of post-Revolution Egypt. Diverse in style and narrative technique, together they render a rich, nuanced, and universally resonant vision of modern life in the Middle East.
The Beggar is a complex tale of alienation and despair. In the aftermath of Nasser's revolution, a man sacrifices his work and family to a series of illicit love affairs. Released from jail in post-Revolutionary times, the hero ofThe Thief and the Dogs blames an unjust society for his ill fortune, eventually bringing himself to destruction. Autumn Quail is a tale of moral responsibility, isolation, and political downfall about a corrupt bureaucrat who is one of the early victims of the purge after the 1952 revolution in Egypt.
The Beggar is a complex tale of alienation and despair. In the aftermath of Nasser's revolution, a man sacrifices his work and family to a series of illicit love affairs. Released from jail in post-Revolutionary times, the hero ofThe Thief and the Dogs blames an unjust society for his ill fortune, eventually bringing himself to destruction. Autumn Quail is a tale of moral responsibility, isolation, and political downfall about a corrupt bureaucrat who is one of the early victims of the purge after the 1952 revolution in Egypt.
480 pages, Paperback
First published December 5, 2000
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467 people want to read
About the author
Naguib Mahfouz
445 books16.1k followersNaguib Mahfouz (Arabic author profile: نجيب محفوظ) was an Egyptian writer who won the 1988 Nobel Prize for Literature. He published over 50 novels, over 350 short stories, dozens of movie scripts, and five plays over a 70-year career. Many of his works have been made into Egyptian and foreign films.
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Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews
November 24, 2016
Alienation can dull the senses, kill the spirit and crush the soul. This is a collection of three novellas by Nobel laureate Naguib Mahfouz. Each protagonist is alienated in his own right. The severity of which seems to increase from the last story to the first; the last character is alienated from the present time, the middle one is alienated from society and the first one, the worst, is alienated from himself. All are set against the backdrop of post-1952 revolutionary Egypt. The basic structure of each story seems similar, with a protagonist with real struggles who initially evokes sympathy. But as the story progresses and each one hurls down a path of self-destruction, we gradually lose empathy for them.
The Beggar
This novella is very complex.
Existential crisis. It happens to everyone at some point or other. It happens to the protagonist, 45 year old Omar al-Hamzawi, a Egyptian lawyer with a successful practice, owner of several properties, with a faithful, dedicated wife, and two daughters. At that start of his disillusionment, I sympathise with his predicament, even identify with him. But then as his story progresses, the more I want to distance myself from him, to condemn him for his actions and his callous nature.
Omar leads a pretty accomplished and comfortable life. That he should feel numb and detached despite all this is not inconceivable. Still it seems rather bourgeois. He tries to medicalise his nascent feelings of alienation and is told that it is overwork and that he needs a break. Wrong answer.
In fact, many existential questions are asked in the course of the story but with no solutions. What is the meaning of life? Who is God? Some philosophical questions are thrown in for good measure, like on art versus science. Can poetry be the answer to life? ”Don’t we live our lives, knowing that our fate rests with God?”
Omar’s wife, Zeinab, had given up everything to be with Omar. Having converted from Christianity to Islam, she was ostracized and cut off from her family. She becomes an unwitting casualty in Omar’s quest to find the answer to life. ”This malady which turns me from work is what turns me from Zeinab, for she is the hidden force, she is its symbol. She is wealth, success, and finally illness. And because I’m sick of these things, I’m disgusted with myself, or rather because I’m disgusted with myself, all else sickens me.” So Omar tries to find an answer in the basest of instincts. He embarks on sexual conquests. Without an ounce of guilt, he abandons Zeinab and pursues other women. No surprises here, that he finds no cure to his feelings of irrelevance. Ironically, he casts his faithful mistress aside for yet another woman. His actions are deplorable but this is still not the crux of the story.
Despite his infidelities, he thinks he can still maintain his relationship with his daughter Buthayna without maintaining himself as faithful husband and responsible father. Wrong again. He tries to bridge the chasm with their common interest in poetry. That fails as well.
Perhaps the key to resolving Omar’s angst lies with his friends. There is his good friend Mustapha, ex-socialist and ex-classmate from his law class who switched to a successful career in journalism. He is like some kind of angel or devil sitting on Omar’s shoulders, alternating between counseling or instigating, ultimately pandering to Omar’s misguided whims. He lives comfortably like Omar, but unlike Omar, he has found contentment in life. ”Tell me, what makes you stick to work and marriage?””My attachment to my wife is based on reality and habit. My work is my means of livelihood. Besides, I’m happy with my audience…Acceptance by the public is gratifying,…”
Then there is Othman. We catch a glimpse of Omar’s socialist revolutionary past through his friend Othman. Othman is like an alternative version of Omar. Whereas, Othman got caught and incarcerated, Omar got away. Othman could have been very bitter, for being imprisoned for the socialist cause which he had fought for and which now achieved fruition. Prison changed him and put things into perspective for him, such that on his release, his only goal was to reassimilate back into society. ”I rediscovered my faith hewing rocks under the sun. I affirmed to myself that my life had not been wasted, that millions of unknown victims since the time of our forebears, the apes, have raised man to a lofty position.””It’s stupid to get caught up in a sick past while the future rises before us, a million times stronger than our cowardice.”
Perhaps the mirror to Omar’s issue is sociopolitical. While the events occurring in Omar’s life are on a personal level, the political backdrop of post-revolutionary Egypt is simmering in the background. Even the enemy, Israel, is given a brief cameo. What was the impact of Nasser’s socialist policies on the middle class like Omar? The potential confiscation of properties by government was hinted at several times.
The ending is
So we go back to the start and ask why the title “The Beggar”? Definitely not one who suffers privation, perhaps Omar is bereft of spiritual fulfillment. So poor that he feels no shame in begging for any kind of enlightenment or healing.
As a quick read, I would have easily dismissed this novella. The prose is simple and the story is not really satisfying. But on reflection, I marvel at some of the interesting details that are woven into its fabric.
The Thief and The Dogs
This novella is more narrative driven and action packed.
“Once a thief, always a thief.” Our protagonist, Said Mahran, is a thief. He is a bad boy through and through. Released from prison, rather than attempting to reform, he embarks on a recidivistic path of self-destruction. He blames his predicament on society and cannot grasp his own culpability. He is consumed by the desire for revenge on three people in particular, Nabbawiyya, his ex-wife, Ilish, her new husband, and Rauf Ilwan, his former benefactor and counselor.
We see things from Said’s perspective, how he has been wronged by the three. But as the story progresses, it becomes less and less convincing that this is the case. He feels betrayed and cheated by his ex-wife and her new husband Ilish, especially in how he is cut off from his own daughter Sana. But the most curious is his attitude towards Rauf. Despite Rauf’s kindness and generosity towards him, he harbours only envy and resentment for Rauf, perhaps because of his privileged background and because of what he represents.
There are other interesting pairs of characters. There are the diametrically opposed characters of the Sheik and Tarzan. The former is religious and spews out the right aphorism for each of Said’s grievances. The latter is a fellow miscreant Tarzan who aids and abets Said. Like Rauf, they both are kind and generous towards Said. The other pair are his ex-wife, of whom little is revealed, and his girlfriend Nur, a whore, who is abused.
Said himself is somewhat of a bumbling idiot.
Autumn Quail
This is another narrative story and is the most connected with the actual turn of events in Egyptian history, including the revolution of 1952 and the nationalization of the Suez Canal. What the connection is with autumn quail eludes me though.
Isa is an opportunistic bureaucrat who falls from grace as a result of the revolution in Egypt. This civil servant has a rapid rise through the ranks and is set to marry Salwa, the daughter of a prominent, influential figure. He is poised on the threshold of a cushy life but it is all taken away from him when military violence breaks out.
Isa is a dinosaur of the deposed, monarchical regime. Instead of moving on, he clings on to the past, hoping that the past glories and opportunities will return. They do not. It is his inertia that ultimately cripples him and causes his downfall. Rather than getting a new job, he waits expectantly for a job back in the civil service, relying on his remaining assets to see him through. He marries Qadriyya, primarily for her money. Devoted and dedicated as she is as a wife, he does not love her.
Isa has three loyal friends, Abbas, Ibrahim and Samir. They meet occasionally and hold interesting and amusing philosophical discussions, reminiscent of biblical Job and his three friends.
The young man gives his parting shot to Isa, ”I make a joke of the troubles I used to have, and look ahead with a smile.””What makes you smile?””Incredible dreams”
Ultimately, the lesson from all three stories is to rise up and move on.
A good read, which would prompt me to explore Mahfouz’s other works.
The Beggar
This novella is very complex.
Existential crisis. It happens to everyone at some point or other. It happens to the protagonist, 45 year old Omar al-Hamzawi, a Egyptian lawyer with a successful practice, owner of several properties, with a faithful, dedicated wife, and two daughters. At that start of his disillusionment, I sympathise with his predicament, even identify with him. But then as his story progresses, the more I want to distance myself from him, to condemn him for his actions and his callous nature.
Omar leads a pretty accomplished and comfortable life. That he should feel numb and detached despite all this is not inconceivable. Still it seems rather bourgeois. He tries to medicalise his nascent feelings of alienation and is told that it is overwork and that he needs a break. Wrong answer.
In fact, many existential questions are asked in the course of the story but with no solutions. What is the meaning of life? Who is God? Some philosophical questions are thrown in for good measure, like on art versus science. Can poetry be the answer to life? ”Don’t we live our lives, knowing that our fate rests with God?”
Omar’s wife, Zeinab, had given up everything to be with Omar. Having converted from Christianity to Islam, she was ostracized and cut off from her family. She becomes an unwitting casualty in Omar’s quest to find the answer to life. ”This malady which turns me from work is what turns me from Zeinab, for she is the hidden force, she is its symbol. She is wealth, success, and finally illness. And because I’m sick of these things, I’m disgusted with myself, or rather because I’m disgusted with myself, all else sickens me.” So Omar tries to find an answer in the basest of instincts. He embarks on sexual conquests. Without an ounce of guilt, he abandons Zeinab and pursues other women. No surprises here, that he finds no cure to his feelings of irrelevance. Ironically, he casts his faithful mistress aside for yet another woman. His actions are deplorable but this is still not the crux of the story.
Despite his infidelities, he thinks he can still maintain his relationship with his daughter Buthayna without maintaining himself as faithful husband and responsible father. Wrong again. He tries to bridge the chasm with their common interest in poetry. That fails as well.
Perhaps the key to resolving Omar’s angst lies with his friends. There is his good friend Mustapha, ex-socialist and ex-classmate from his law class who switched to a successful career in journalism. He is like some kind of angel or devil sitting on Omar’s shoulders, alternating between counseling or instigating, ultimately pandering to Omar’s misguided whims. He lives comfortably like Omar, but unlike Omar, he has found contentment in life. ”Tell me, what makes you stick to work and marriage?””My attachment to my wife is based on reality and habit. My work is my means of livelihood. Besides, I’m happy with my audience…Acceptance by the public is gratifying,…”
Then there is Othman. We catch a glimpse of Omar’s socialist revolutionary past through his friend Othman. Othman is like an alternative version of Omar. Whereas, Othman got caught and incarcerated, Omar got away. Othman could have been very bitter, for being imprisoned for the socialist cause which he had fought for and which now achieved fruition. Prison changed him and put things into perspective for him, such that on his release, his only goal was to reassimilate back into society. ”I rediscovered my faith hewing rocks under the sun. I affirmed to myself that my life had not been wasted, that millions of unknown victims since the time of our forebears, the apes, have raised man to a lofty position.””It’s stupid to get caught up in a sick past while the future rises before us, a million times stronger than our cowardice.”
Perhaps the mirror to Omar’s issue is sociopolitical. While the events occurring in Omar’s life are on a personal level, the political backdrop of post-revolutionary Egypt is simmering in the background. Even the enemy, Israel, is given a brief cameo. What was the impact of Nasser’s socialist policies on the middle class like Omar? The potential confiscation of properties by government was hinted at several times.
The ending is
So we go back to the start and ask why the title “The Beggar”? Definitely not one who suffers privation, perhaps Omar is bereft of spiritual fulfillment. So poor that he feels no shame in begging for any kind of enlightenment or healing.
As a quick read, I would have easily dismissed this novella. The prose is simple and the story is not really satisfying. But on reflection, I marvel at some of the interesting details that are woven into its fabric.
The Thief and The Dogs
This novella is more narrative driven and action packed.
“Once a thief, always a thief.” Our protagonist, Said Mahran, is a thief. He is a bad boy through and through. Released from prison, rather than attempting to reform, he embarks on a recidivistic path of self-destruction. He blames his predicament on society and cannot grasp his own culpability. He is consumed by the desire for revenge on three people in particular, Nabbawiyya, his ex-wife, Ilish, her new husband, and Rauf Ilwan, his former benefactor and counselor.
We see things from Said’s perspective, how he has been wronged by the three. But as the story progresses, it becomes less and less convincing that this is the case. He feels betrayed and cheated by his ex-wife and her new husband Ilish, especially in how he is cut off from his own daughter Sana. But the most curious is his attitude towards Rauf. Despite Rauf’s kindness and generosity towards him, he harbours only envy and resentment for Rauf, perhaps because of his privileged background and because of what he represents.
There are other interesting pairs of characters. There are the diametrically opposed characters of the Sheik and Tarzan. The former is religious and spews out the right aphorism for each of Said’s grievances. The latter is a fellow miscreant Tarzan who aids and abets Said. Like Rauf, they both are kind and generous towards Said. The other pair are his ex-wife, of whom little is revealed, and his girlfriend Nur, a whore, who is abused.
Said himself is somewhat of a bumbling idiot.
Autumn Quail
This is another narrative story and is the most connected with the actual turn of events in Egyptian history, including the revolution of 1952 and the nationalization of the Suez Canal. What the connection is with autumn quail eludes me though.
Isa is an opportunistic bureaucrat who falls from grace as a result of the revolution in Egypt. This civil servant has a rapid rise through the ranks and is set to marry Salwa, the daughter of a prominent, influential figure. He is poised on the threshold of a cushy life but it is all taken away from him when military violence breaks out.
Isa is a dinosaur of the deposed, monarchical regime. Instead of moving on, he clings on to the past, hoping that the past glories and opportunities will return. They do not. It is his inertia that ultimately cripples him and causes his downfall. Rather than getting a new job, he waits expectantly for a job back in the civil service, relying on his remaining assets to see him through. He marries Qadriyya, primarily for her money. Devoted and dedicated as she is as a wife, he does not love her.
Isa has three loyal friends, Abbas, Ibrahim and Samir. They meet occasionally and hold interesting and amusing philosophical discussions, reminiscent of biblical Job and his three friends.
The young man gives his parting shot to Isa, ”I make a joke of the troubles I used to have, and look ahead with a smile.””What makes you smile?””Incredible dreams”
Ultimately, the lesson from all three stories is to rise up and move on.
A good read, which would prompt me to explore Mahfouz’s other works.
December 18, 2014
I really liked Autumn Quail. I learned a lot about Egypt in the 1950s, and found the hero, Isa, and his descent into self-pity and inertia an interesting character to follow. The story starts with his situation in a prominent government position, and his obvious passion for what he is doing. As we read on, we see that he used his role for ill-gain, and how that eventually gets him fired. He loses most of what he has, although they have given him a very decent financial package of 2 years salary. His friends remain, and as we see Isa's unwillingness to find any kind of work, we also see their unwavering support of him and his reliance on their good will. He philosophizes, he denies, he accepts, he learns. His meeting with his daughter is particularly revealing of a depth and tenderness that rarely get expressed.
The edition I read is translated by Roger Allen, who has made the text completely readable and accessible to the novice reader of Naguib Mahfouz. I intend to read more of this Nobel Prize winning author.
The edition I read is translated by Roger Allen, who has made the text completely readable and accessible to the novice reader of Naguib Mahfouz. I intend to read more of this Nobel Prize winning author.
February 23, 2025
felt a lot of emotions & none of them good, no redemption by the end
September 7, 2022
DNF. I was excited about being able to read my first fiction book about Egypt, especially the one written by a 1988 Nobel Prize in Literature awardee and the first Arab writer to bag the prize. But short into the third story in the trilogy, Autumn Quail, I couldn't bring myself to finish it. I got tired about how the main characters (all males) dealt with their situations and dropped the book entirely. It's just rife with revenge, egotistic points of views, and hate without any clear resolves.
I would like to read it again but how it's written/translated is not my cup of tea. It's nostalgic to see parallels of socioeconomic struggles and political turmoil with my own country though.
I would like to read it again but how it's written/translated is not my cup of tea. It's nostalgic to see parallels of socioeconomic struggles and political turmoil with my own country though.
July 7, 2008
A truly great book. Deeply moving. There is a reason to why he got the nobel prize for literature. He more than deserves it.
January 6, 2019
I read "The Thief and the Dogs" - I highly recommend this tale! Before now I had only been familiar with Mahfouz's earlier works and "Children of Gebelawi" - all of which were brilliant, but boring reads because they didn't offer a fresh outlook on well-known (at least to me) ideas and concepts. However, in "The Thief and the Dogs" Naguib Mahfouz does an amazing job of portraying the mindset of a completely wrecked man, a thief, a law-breaker. A short, sweet read, perfect for a sleepless night. Now I can be completely sure that Naguib Mahfouz most certainly deserved the Nobel Prize.
---- SPOILER AHEAD ---
You might say - come on, a torn individual who refuses to take responsibility for his actions, that's nothing new in literature. However, in my opinion, what makes Said's character different from Raskolnikov, forget his name from Catch-22, etc. is the fact that he never atones - more than that, he never even attempts to seek atonement, so sure he is of his innocence and the guilt of the rest of the world. Also, something I enjoyed is seeing the story only through his thoughts, through his eyes + the unfinished stories of Nur, Sana etc. I like that they weren't summed up, that it was left to the reader to ponder what exactly happened. I don't assume to know EVERY plot ever, there probably are similar storylines in other, earlier classic works, however for me this was a first.
---- SPOILER AHEAD ---
You might say - come on, a torn individual who refuses to take responsibility for his actions, that's nothing new in literature. However, in my opinion, what makes Said's character different from Raskolnikov, forget his name from Catch-22, etc. is the fact that he never atones - more than that, he never even attempts to seek atonement, so sure he is of his innocence and the guilt of the rest of the world. Also, something I enjoyed is seeing the story only through his thoughts, through his eyes + the unfinished stories of Nur, Sana etc. I like that they weren't summed up, that it was left to the reader to ponder what exactly happened. I don't assume to know EVERY plot ever, there probably are similar storylines in other, earlier classic works, however for me this was a first.
March 31, 2019
I read the thief and the dogs and I really recommend this novel! This was my second time reading this book. I read this when I was in 9th-grade Literature class. This novel is written by one of the Egyptian writers. n this story, Said is the main character who was a thief. This book tells the audience about unfairness. The Thief and the Dogs reveals a story and message is unique to Egyptian unfairness. Because of Egyptian, there were few types of unfairness, and the one is between people who rich and people who poor. And The difference cause something bad happens to the people who live in Egypt, and to the government. The main message from this book is “unfairness”. This keyword cause problem between six characters.
November 21, 2020
Three Novellas by Naguib Mahfouz. Finished reading this a few days ago. It was on okay read.
.
Theme of existentialism is strong. Too strong. The main characters literally go around asking people abstract questions about the meaning of life and God. Yeah. We get it. You are deeeeep. Usually, or typically, our heroes are worn out by capitalism, mainly because they do not prosper in it. They also have these women they love who have dumped them. So, they make do with other women who love them. Too much, sometimes. But hey... That's deep literature for you. In the end, our heroes continue to look for themselves.
.
The writing is confusing. I get the story but it did get too surreal. Important works, though, and a lot of political issues were raised.
.
Theme of existentialism is strong. Too strong. The main characters literally go around asking people abstract questions about the meaning of life and God. Yeah. We get it. You are deeeeep. Usually, or typically, our heroes are worn out by capitalism, mainly because they do not prosper in it. They also have these women they love who have dumped them. So, they make do with other women who love them. Too much, sometimes. But hey... That's deep literature for you. In the end, our heroes continue to look for themselves.
.
The writing is confusing. I get the story but it did get too surreal. Important works, though, and a lot of political issues were raised.
November 25, 2019
The Thief and the Dogs is a great book that conveys humans characteristics of betrayal and vengeance. Due to characteristics of disloyalty, infidelity, and self-centerdness from Said's close friends, Said was driven to seek revenge on them. However, him seeking revenge led to negative outcomes that eventually put him in the worst position.
I would definitely recommend this book to those who are curious about the humans behaviour when betrayed, and for those who are curious regarding to what extend Said went to attempt to cause his friends hardship.
I would definitely recommend this book to those who are curious about the humans behaviour when betrayed, and for those who are curious regarding to what extend Said went to attempt to cause his friends hardship.
January 13, 2020
an excellent look at events during periods of civil unrest in egypt in the mid 20th century. these three stories have varying levels of foundation setting, but are well worth it as their individual nihilistic angles come to fruition. autumn quail was the slowest read for me; given its amount of unfamiliar language, similar side characters, and real-life locations there was a disconnect from the story each time I followed yhe reference in the back of the book. I highly recommend this set of stories.
April 18, 2023
Not for me. I get very annoyed with characters who wallow in self-pity while refusing to take any responsibility for their lives, and that is exactly what the main characters of all three stories are like! Plus very misogynistic…
February 22, 2020
Said is Syed
Read
December 8, 2023The Beggar - 3/5 Stars
Another story about marriage! In this short novel, we find a man who is looking to understand the nature of his modern ailment, loneliness, sadness, and emptiness. And so, in spite of his marriage, he finds himself wallowing in loveless affair after loveless affair, looking for a sense of meaning and purpose to his life.
Ultimately, this all works it’s way back to that classic question: Is life is for living, what’s living for? (Yes, I am quoting the Kinks here). And the answer, as we all know, is who knows? So you gotta to figure something out. Like a lot of novels in this little minidrama, the failure of masculinity is not so much not having the answers to these questions, but in providing false answers that satisfy only temporarily or partially and in failing to equip those of us in search of answers something more meaningful. And like in a lot of these types of novels, there’s a lot of false answers, instead of real ones. Novels have that weird way of affirming your own sense of the world a lot of times, or in cases like here, would affirm my sense of the world if I hadn’t mostly lucked out and had my brain sort of fix itself (or rather, I got some living under my belt that allowed me to better try out some of the trappings of a life better lived). In some ways, this book is a more depressing and cynical version of something like The Moviegoer, and more akin to books like Nausea or The Stranger.
The Thief and the Dogs – 3/5 Stars
The second book from the collection of Mahfouz books that I read from. Each of these books were written and published after the vaunted Cairo Trilogy, which I have only read the first of. Those books all total about 1200 pages and so that project is obviously a large one. The books of Mahfouz I’ve read have all been short. It’s an interesting contrast. This book involves a thief who is let out of prison in the post-revolution Egypt. He’s bitter as hell about his imprisonment. It’s akin to someone getting arrested for stealing while a corrupt government is lawless flouting all convention. So maybe like protesters in the US facing ridiculously inflated charges for protesting police brutality. Regardless, he spends the whole of the novel trying to figure out his place in a new society, and ultimately failing, and in the throes of all this also trying to exercise whatever levels of vengeance and retribution he feels necessary to rectify his imprisonment. It’s an angry and trauma-filled novel a lot like much noir writing of decades previous.
Autumn Quall – 3/5 Stars
Quite similar in its own ways to the two other novels in the collection, this one is much more muted and subtle than the previous ones. A civil servant faces down his past as a new regime takes over his previous government.
Another story about marriage! In this short novel, we find a man who is looking to understand the nature of his modern ailment, loneliness, sadness, and emptiness. And so, in spite of his marriage, he finds himself wallowing in loveless affair after loveless affair, looking for a sense of meaning and purpose to his life.
Ultimately, this all works it’s way back to that classic question: Is life is for living, what’s living for? (Yes, I am quoting the Kinks here). And the answer, as we all know, is who knows? So you gotta to figure something out. Like a lot of novels in this little minidrama, the failure of masculinity is not so much not having the answers to these questions, but in providing false answers that satisfy only temporarily or partially and in failing to equip those of us in search of answers something more meaningful. And like in a lot of these types of novels, there’s a lot of false answers, instead of real ones. Novels have that weird way of affirming your own sense of the world a lot of times, or in cases like here, would affirm my sense of the world if I hadn’t mostly lucked out and had my brain sort of fix itself (or rather, I got some living under my belt that allowed me to better try out some of the trappings of a life better lived). In some ways, this book is a more depressing and cynical version of something like The Moviegoer, and more akin to books like Nausea or The Stranger.
The Thief and the Dogs – 3/5 Stars
The second book from the collection of Mahfouz books that I read from. Each of these books were written and published after the vaunted Cairo Trilogy, which I have only read the first of. Those books all total about 1200 pages and so that project is obviously a large one. The books of Mahfouz I’ve read have all been short. It’s an interesting contrast. This book involves a thief who is let out of prison in the post-revolution Egypt. He’s bitter as hell about his imprisonment. It’s akin to someone getting arrested for stealing while a corrupt government is lawless flouting all convention. So maybe like protesters in the US facing ridiculously inflated charges for protesting police brutality. Regardless, he spends the whole of the novel trying to figure out his place in a new society, and ultimately failing, and in the throes of all this also trying to exercise whatever levels of vengeance and retribution he feels necessary to rectify his imprisonment. It’s an angry and trauma-filled novel a lot like much noir writing of decades previous.
Autumn Quall – 3/5 Stars
Quite similar in its own ways to the two other novels in the collection, this one is much more muted and subtle than the previous ones. A civil servant faces down his past as a new regime takes over his previous government.
September 28, 2016
I only made it through "The Beggar". When I read the introduction to "The Thief and the Dogs" and realized the entire volume was devoted to the angst of man (males) in their search for the "meaning in life", I just knew I couldn't continue. The Beggar was, if nothing else, believable. But, as a woman, I had a very difficult time sympathizing with the angst or even understanding it. After pondering about it for a few hours, I think women do not go through the "meaning of life" search that leads to reckless abandonment of family, job, and friends, and the need for fast boats, fast cars, fast lives, only to experience the disappointment because nothing scratches the itch. I know, some women probably do, but I think this is much more prevalent in men and may be a product of having lived longer than our natural years, a preoccupation with "the hunt" and then the devastating realization that as you grow beyond your biological years and can no longer hunt there is no longer a meaning to life. I don't know.
December 23, 2008
I only wish that I could understand Arabic to really enjoy Mahfouz and his masterful style. He uses the political world to create a fictional one in which his protagonists either go insane, acquiesce to death or escalate to new heights of nihilism. These three short stories show the reader what it could be like to be on the 'wrong' side of history or whether that even matters at all. They go deep into the Egyptian psyche of failure and hopelessness after the wars with Israel, like some of his other stories and novels.
All in all, these stories are a good read even if only you want to get a snap-shot of modern Egyptian history. If you are philosophically-inclined, these stories are a gold-mine.
All in all, these stories are a good read even if only you want to get a snap-shot of modern Egyptian history. If you are philosophically-inclined, these stories are a gold-mine.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 8, 2008
SO DEPRESSING. I was lucky enough to read this on some tropical beach last year. If I had been reading it holed up in my cave surrounded by wintry mix, I mightn't have made it.
The writing style and themes reminded me of Camus a lot, which was surprising since this is the first Egyptian author I've read.
The writing style and themes reminded me of Camus a lot, which was surprising since this is the first Egyptian author I've read.
October 6, 2010
The Beggar was great; a good one to try if you want a warmup for the Cairo Trilogy. The Thief and the Dogs was heart-breaking; of course that would only be possible if it were really well-written. Autumn Quail I didn't love as much, but I think I started reading it during the semester (Spring '01) and stretched it out over too much time.
February 23, 2015
A great collection of three short stories. Each deals with deeply flawed characters whether due to mental illness, morality and crime, or thwarted ambition in a revolutionary regime. Well written prose. My favourite of the three is 'The Beggar'. I will definitely read more works by this outstanding author.
April 3, 2007
I really enjoyed reading these short stories. I don't know the culture in Egypt, but it seemed to show the reality of the Arab culture, some of which is disturbing. But I still enjoyed it!
December 28, 2009
wOw that all i can to said...........
June 5, 2012
Philosophical musings :)
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August 13, 2013That was the first book i've read from him. Deeply moving I can say. Im looking forward to read more from Mahfouz.
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