Between the two palaces. One of the three canonical texts of Cairo

Author: Naguib Mahfouz
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2003-05-01
Features: Naguib Mahfouz is a Nobel laureate, and "The Cairo Trilogy" is one of his major works. The novel depicts the various changes in Egyptian social and historical history from 1917 to 1944 through the different fates of three generations of a family. Each volume focuses on the life of one generation, with the title of the book reflecting the region where that generation lives. The work resembles a vibrant tapestry of modern Egyptian customs.
The first volume, A Place of the Sun, primarily portrays the life of the family's father, Ahmad, and the historical events they experience. Ahmad is both a trustworthy and patriotic merchant and a stern patriarch. While upholding traditional moral values, he justifies his indulgences with the mercy and tolerance of God. His eldest son is idle and in pleasure-seeking, while his second son is a young student who sacrificed his life during a protest against colonial rule.