Voices from the Other World : Naguib Mahfouz

Naguib Mahfouz was a Nobel prize winning Egyptian writer whose works brought to life different parts of Egyptian history.

Voices from the Other world is a collection of five short stories which were written in the 1930s and 1940s. They might have been ancient fables which Mahfouz rewrote.  The stories are related to Pharonic Egypt but have some very interesting themes. Evil Adored satirises the do gooders.. those who fight for justice who then will have nothing to do when justice is achieved; King Userkaf's forgiveness is about a happy man who questions the loyalty of his friends and relatives - 'people seek refuge in the shade of a leafy tree, but when winter strips it bare, they cut the branches for  for firewood".  The Mummy Awakens is a satire on the modern Egypt's relationship with the old; The Return of Sinuhe is about decisions made in haste while A Voice from the Other World is a tale told from the tomb about detachment and death.  The stories have humour, and clever twists in the end.
This is a highly recommended read!



The Bookclub had done Sugar Street and Palace of Desire .

Comments

  1. AnonymousFebruary 11, 2013 at 5:29 AM

    i want text ofshort story "the mumy awakens" by nughiab mahfooz.from where i could get it?

    ReplyDelete
  2. Vidyaratha KissoonFebruary 11, 2013 at 7:09 AM

    I dont have the book any more :(

    ReplyDelete
  3. AnonymousNovember 4, 2013 at 11:12 AM

    Can anyone provide original text of "The Mummy Awakens" by Nughiab Mahfooz. Please provide its link urgently.

    ReplyDelete

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Turpentine mango madness

Image
Some of the mango was stuck on the stubble around my mouth. I looked at the mirror, a bit of shame because I had just collected an invitation from a well dressed guy and I wonder how I must have looked to him.. look at dis big man .. he cyan eat mango good . Thing is.. wiping off mango from stubble is difficult.. and the casual swipe with a hand which might have some juice is also useless. The turpentine mango is useless when it is green - it tastes awful, like turpentine.  Mother Nature works a miracle because the ripe one though, is sweet, juicy, no strings and no turpentine taste. And the colours on the skins are bright yellow/orange/pink/purple/red shades that are probably meant to draw all species of mango lovers. The trouble with turpentine is that you cannot pick it green or 'turnin' ' to ripen like say how they do it with Spice mangoes.  You have to leave on the tree until there is some point.. when there is no taste of turpentine. So you look at the m
Read more

Re-writing Irfaan Ali's disgraceful statement after accepting his comrade's resignation

Image
  (President Irfaan Ali made a Facebook post in which he accepted the resignation of his comrade Nigel Dharmlall from the Cabinet and the Party. This is an imaginary rewriting of that statement) Fellow Guyanese, as you’re aware, I am in Trinidad and Tobago attending the 45th session of the Heads of Government meeting of CARICOM and the 50th anniversary of CARICOM.  Tonight I want to address you in relation to the allegation that was made multiple allegations of rape and sexual violence which have been made against Minister Nigel Dharamlall.  From the inception, I advised the population that I would allow the system to work.   I would never and the government would never intervene in the system. We’ve allowed an independent investigation; the minister proceeded on leave to ensure that an independent investigation was conducted. I recognise that many survivors of rape and other forms of gender-based violence do not trust the system to work because it has failed many times.  I ad
Read more

My experience with depression - Dr Raquel Thomas-Caesar

Image
(The University of Guyana held Turkeyne & Tain Talks 2 on Monday 12 September, 2016 on Suicide Prevention . Dr Raquel Thomas-Caesar made a presentation based on her experience. This is the text of the presentation) by Raquel Thomas-Caesar I am not an expert on the issue of Suicide and Depression but this is my personal journey dealing with such issues. I have never spoken publicly about this at such a forum and I hope that it serves to help others even if only a small way- Dr Raquel Thomas-Caesar South East London,  June 9, 1995 As I sit under the tree, hidden from all eyes…I wait….to go. I wait to die. Then it hits me…OMG. I really don’t want to die. What have I done? My head is swinging, fuzzy, I can hardly walk. But I barely make it up and up the hill…I see two young black men in the distance…they come towards me, I could only imagine they thought I was on drugs..I beg for help. My Angels.  I wake up in the hospital. This was me- 21 years ago.  In a foreign land, drea
Read more