Children of Gebelawi

I read a remarkable novel by Egyptian Nobel-prize-winner Naguib Mahfouz: Children of Gebelaawi (أولاد حارتن). Also known as Children of the Alley (Les fils de la médina in French) it is an amazing mixture of realism and mythology, creating an atmosphere I never found anywhere else.

In an imaginary district of Cairo named after his founder, Gebelaawi, men live a miserable life of gruelling work and injustice under the rule of the futuwahs, the mercenaries of the intendant. They turn their faces towards the mansion of the founder: "Gebelaawi, where art Thou?" - If He did not conceal His face, He would restore justice.

The book starts with Adham, younger son of the founder being expelled from the paradisal mansion of his father, Gebelaawi. The three Prophets - or the three Impostors ? - come in turn and restore justice for their family and their followers, although their work never outlives them for more than a generation.

After every prophet has passed away, hardship of life returns and it is described in such realistic terms that I could not but associate it with that of most Cambodians who, like the Gebelaawites, have to push all day long a heavy cart of vegetables to earn a few riels at the end of the day, while being at the mercy of the wealthy and the corrupt law enforcement.

I read it in Jean-Patrick Guillaume's French translation which is very good. Apparently, for the English version, one should refer to the Stewart translation if you can get hold of it because it is supposed to be much more interesting than Theroux's.