Religion, My Own: Literary Works of Najib Mahfuz

The Egyptian writer Najib Mahfuz has been acclaimed by many Arab critics as the greatest living Arabic literary writer and one of the pioneers of social criticism in literature in Egypt. This work, the only major book-length study of Mahfuz's work, traces his literary development as a writer and analyzes the thematic aspect of his work: the relationship between individual and society. Mahfuz's method of presenting this relationship in his novels and short stories is studied within the context of his Islamic world view. ,

Mahfuz's writing follows the models set by modern Western literature. His unique contribution to Egyptian literature is that he made the novel and the short story a means of exploring indigenous problems. Egyptian writers who preceded him paved the way for his achievements, but none reached his mastery. He enabled the Egyptian genius to express itself in literary forms new to Arabic Literary tradition.

The literary career of Mahfuz is marked by three distinct phases. The first is the Pharaonic phase (1935-38), in which three historical novels were written. The second is the realistic phase (1938-52), in which most of his great works were written, including the Cairo trilogy. The third phase began, after a pause of six years, in 1958, and is distinguished by symbolic writings and a deep concern for the individual in a changing society.

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Religion, My Own: Literary Works of Najib Mahfuz

The Egyptian writer Najib Mahfuz has been acclaimed by many Arab critics as the greatest living Arabic literary writer and one of the pioneers of social criticism in literature in Egypt. This work, the only major book-length study of Mahfuz's work, traces his literary development as a writer and analyzes the thematic aspect of his work: the relationship between individual and society. Mahfuz's method of presenting this relationship in his novels and short stories is studied within the context of his Islamic world view. ,

Mahfuz's writing follows the models set by modern Western literature. His unique contribution to Egyptian literature is that he made the novel and the short story a means of exploring indigenous problems. Egyptian writers who preceded him paved the way for his achievements, but none reached his mastery. He enabled the Egyptian genius to express itself in literary forms new to Arabic Literary tradition.

The literary career of Mahfuz is marked by three distinct phases. The first is the Pharaonic phase (1935-38), in which three historical novels were written. The second is the realistic phase (1938-52), in which most of his great works were written, including the Cairo trilogy. The third phase began, after a pause of six years, in 1958, and is distinguished by symbolic writings and a deep concern for the individual in a changing society.

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Religion, My Own: Literary Works of Najib Mahfuz

Religion, My Own: Literary Works of Najib Mahfuz

by Mattityahu Peled
Religion, My Own: Literary Works of Najib Mahfuz

Religion, My Own: Literary Works of Najib Mahfuz

by Mattityahu Peled

Paperback

$39.99 
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Overview

The Egyptian writer Najib Mahfuz has been acclaimed by many Arab critics as the greatest living Arabic literary writer and one of the pioneers of social criticism in literature in Egypt. This work, the only major book-length study of Mahfuz's work, traces his literary development as a writer and analyzes the thematic aspect of his work: the relationship between individual and society. Mahfuz's method of presenting this relationship in his novels and short stories is studied within the context of his Islamic world view. ,

Mahfuz's writing follows the models set by modern Western literature. His unique contribution to Egyptian literature is that he made the novel and the short story a means of exploring indigenous problems. Egyptian writers who preceded him paved the way for his achievements, but none reached his mastery. He enabled the Egyptian genius to express itself in literary forms new to Arabic Literary tradition.

The literary career of Mahfuz is marked by three distinct phases. The first is the Pharaonic phase (1935-38), in which three historical novels were written. The second is the realistic phase (1938-52), in which most of his great works were written, including the Cairo trilogy. The third phase began, after a pause of six years, in 1958, and is distinguished by symbolic writings and a deep concern for the individual in a changing society.


Product Details

ISBN-13: 9781138514058
Publisher: Taylor & Francis
Publication date: 04/16/2018
Series: Studies in Islamic Culture and History , #6
Pages: 280
Product dimensions: 6.00(w) x 9.00(h) x (d)

About the Author

Mattityahu Peled is senior lecturer of Arabic literature at Tel-Aviv University. A career officer in the Israeli Defense Forces, he retired in 1968 with the rank of major general.

Table of Contents

1: The Arcadian; 1: Invoking the Spirit; 2: Snares and Nets; 3: The View from Nebo; Epilogue to Part One; 2: God's World; 4: The Neighborhood; 5: The Unholy Valley; 6: The Old City; Epilogue to Part Two; 3: Whisper of Madness; 7: The Rebel; 8: On the Waterfront
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