Mahfouz Trilogy Three Novels of Ancient Egypt (Everyman’s Library Contemporary Classics)

Stunning historical trilogy with interesting central characters with time spanning through the ancient Egyptian kingdoms. The stories are fantastical but based on just enough historical references to make them visually real and appealing to read. Power and destiny, human weaknesses and strength of beliefs are the recurring themes: these are epic stories and yet are eminently readable, well recounted and translated.

Beautifully packaged by Everyman's Library, these three novellas from Egyptian novelist Naguib Mahfouz are folk tales from the pharonic periods of Egypt. Included are "Khufu's Wisdom", a story that speaks to the futility of challenging fate, even if you are the most powerful man in the world; "Rhadopis of Nubia", the story of an all-consuming love affair that brings down a young pharoh; and "Thebes at War", that has the feel in story and language of "The Iliad" or other classical epics. Author Mahfouz has purposely given his stories an extrarealist, even surrealist, feel. His interest is less in providing a totally accurate historic context but more in presenting interesting characters living in historic times. It's no accident that he portrays the powerful as especially vulnerable to destiny, passion and sins of pride and arrogance. The loftiest characters in these stories lose the most in terms of privilege and power. These books were written at a time when Egypt's modern rulers were seen as ineffectual, corrupt and personally inmmoral. As mentioned, "Three Novels of Ancient Egypt" is beautifully bound and printed (complete with silk place holder). There is an interesting forward by novelist Nadine Gordimer in which she includes a favorite quote from literary critic Georg Lukacs. "What matters i the historical novel is not the telling of great historical events, but the poet's awakening of people who figure in those events." Apt for these three novellas. Wonderful read. Recommended.

Gift.

Maintains reader interest, but not up to the literary standard of Cairo and later novels. Perhaps the translation is at fault

I read this book before and during travelling to Egypt. I like to read creative writing to enhance my travel experiences. Figuring out dynasties, tombs, northern Nile vs. southern Nile, was something I enjoyed doing while comparing fact to fiction. Wonderful writing, he is a master at storytelling!

Splendid setting, magnificent prose, great pacing and intriguing characters - what more can one ask for. Also, Mahfouz is a master when it comes to describing what a character's feeling at any given point in the story - one can actually feel his/ her emotions whilst reading every line.

Beautifully packaged by Everyman's Library, these three novellas from Egyptian novelist Naguib Mahfouz are folk tales from the pharonic periods of Egypt. Included are "Khufu's Wisdom", a story that speaks to the futility of challenging fate, even if you are the most powerful man in the world; "Rhadopis of Nubia", the story of an all-consuming love affair that brings down a young pharoh; and "Thebes at War", that has the feel in story and language of "The Iliad" or other classical epics. Author Mahfouz has purposely given his stories an extrarealist, even surrealist, feel. His interest is less in providing a totally accurate historic context but more in presenting interesting characters living in historic times. It's no accident that he portrays the powerful as especially vulnerable to destiny, passion and sins of pride and arrogance. The loftiest characters in these stories lose the most in terms of privilege and power. These books were written at a time when Egypt's modern rulers were seen as ineffectual, corrupt and personally inmmoral. As mentioned, "Three Novels of Ancient Egypt" is beautifully bound and printed (complete with silk place holder). There is an interesting forward by novelist Nadine Gordimer in which she includes a favorite quote from literary critic Georg Lukacs. "What matters i the historical novel is not the telling of great historical events, but the poet's awakening of people who figure in those events." Apt for these three novellas. Wonderful read. Recommended.

An enchanting read.