Le Palais du désir

Was he experiencing what was happening to other fathers in these strange times? He heard the most fanciful things about the "youth of today": middle‑school pupils were getting into the habit of smoking, others were trampling on the dignity of their teachers, still others were rebelling against their fathers! Oh, of course, his own prestige remained intact, but... what assessment could he make of this long life of strictness and firmness? On one side Yasine, sinking into degradation, and on the other Kamal, arguing, disputing and trying to slip from his grasp!...

Here we meet again the unforgettable characters from The Alley of the Two Palaces. Yasine and Kamal have grown up. Around Abd el‑Gawwad, the world reels. Little by little traditional Egyptian society yields ground to modern mores and values. Like the Nile, Mahfouz's novel pursues its course, imposing, monumental, fascinating...