10 - 16 January 2002
Issue No.568
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Al-Ahram Weekly Online 10 - 16 January 2002 Issue No.568 |
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Mahfouz and more
Sir-- Thank you for the set of articles about Naguib Mahfouz (Special Supplement, issue no. 564, 13-19 Dec 2001). The articles and commentary were very helpful to non-Egyptian readers, enabling them to appreciate the context of Mahfouz's writing. I discovered Mahfouz simply by searching the Internet for "Arab literature," then discovered that his books were readily available in American bookstores. (Clearly the Internet is changing the world for the better: I have become a regular reader of Al-Ahram Weekly and am learning more about the Arab and Islamic world from the comforts of my living room).I have two requests. One regarding Professor Samia Mehrez's article about Mahfouz: why is Children of the Alley controversial? I read the book and found it pessimistic but innocent. It is baffling to me why there was an assassination attempt on Mahfouz because of this book.
The second request is of a less specific nature as I was wondering whether it would be possible for you to publish in your on-line edition longer and more formalised commentary on Mahfouz's works as well as on that of other Arab literary figures, much in the way that "Cliff's Notes" or "Barron's Book Notes" are done in the US. I have always found these notes very helpful in gaining the most out of literature.
Thank you again and my heartfelt best wishes.
Dan MacLeod
New York
USAWe are deeply grateful for your appreciation. This month's edition of Books, the first of 2002, is double its usual size, having been carried over from last month to make space for the special supplement marking the 90th birthday of Egyptian Nobel Laureate Naguib Mahfouz. In it you will find Richard Jacquemond's review of Mahfouz's Children of the Alley. We hope the review helps you in further understanding the context of this novel.
As for your second request, we hope to be able to dedicate more space to Arabic literature and Arab literary figures in the future, as we build on the Supplement's new enlarged format. Readers comments and suggestions will be most helpful in this respect.
Books Editor
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