The novel was first published in Arabic in 1959. It's about an Egyptian family, but it's also the setting for a second, hidden, and more daring narrative: the spiritual history of humankind. The men and women of a modern Cairo neighborood unwittingly reenact the lives of their holy ancestors: from the feudal lord who disowns one son for diabolical pride and puts another to the test, to the savior of a succeeding generation who frees his people from bondage. This powerful novel confirms that Mahfouz is "the single most important writer in modern Arabic literature" (quoting Newsweek).
In 2016 an Amazon reviewer wrote:
This book is a fictional retelling of the history of the great religious leaders of the Middle East, including Moses, Jesus and Mohammad, and a scientist to represent the modern era, when God is supposedly dead. The story is a bit predictable, because you know who the players are in advance, but Mahfouz plays with their histories enough to provide some surprises, and the way he interprets the temperament of the great spiritual leaders is designed to be entertaining and leave you wondering what will happen next. The writing is quite good, better than in many of his books, though I don't know how much of this is Mahfouz and how much is the translator. The book is fast-paced, and I found myself turning pages quite rapidly as the heroes appear on the scene, take on the bad guys, and effect spiritual enlightenment which never lasts long. I have read many Mahfouz books, and this one is a gem. I found it on a list of great world literature, and I agree with whoever made that list; this story is excellent. Highly recommended!"
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