“This is the first Mahfouz book that I have read. It is set in Cairo during the 1940's and follows the lives of people who live and work in Midaq Alley. It really captures the essence of life of ordinary people in the Middle East during that period. The characters really come alive and it is easy to see why Mahfouz is considered one of the best Arabic authors. The characters are very vivid, the main female character quite evil, yet still likeable.”

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