In this pithy, powerful parable, the masterly Naguib Mahfouz explores life's secrets and the mysterious maze of the human heart--a mystical and lyrical Pilgrim's Progress set in a mythical, timeless Middle East.
| ||||||||||||||||||
Book Description
Frequently Bought Together
Product Details
Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images?
|
Product Description
From Publishers Weekly
In this short, intermittently provocative fable, first published in Arabic in 1983, the Nobel Prize-winning Egyptian author of the Cairo Trilogy ponders the question: What is the best way to organize a society? Betrayed by his sweetheart, young Ibn Fattouma of "the land of Islam" begins a journey in search of wisdom. In Mashriq, whose citizens go naked and worship the moon, he marries Arousa, a pagan woman. Thrown out of Mashriq for trying to bring up his son as a Muslim, he next stops in Haira, a land whose bloody king is worshiped as God. Ibn Fattouma escapes imprisonment for Halba, where all religions are welcomed and Muslim homosexuals peacefully demonstrate for gay rights. There he marries a Muslim female pediatrician who teaches him the value of an Islam "of independent judgment." Next the hero visits Aman, a communist state with full employment but no personal freedoms. He never reaches his ultimate goal, Gebel, land of perfection. Mahfouz's pithy parable mocks the hypocrisy of nations that wage war and maintain empire in the name of brotherhood and freedom.
Copyright 1992 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.
Copyright 1992 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.
From Library Journal
Fattouma is disappointed in love, so he sets out seeking comfort in wisdom. His goal is the fabled land of Gebel, from which no one has ever returned. First, though, his caravan must pass through five other countries, each distinct in governance and religion, and each delaying Ibn for years. Mashriq is despotic, peopled by naked slaves, and here Ibn falls in love with Arousa and starts a family. War separates them, and he pursues her through Haira, a theocratic police state; Halba, the land of freedom; and Communist Aman. Finally, from Ghuroub, where only reason is worshipped, he leaves to enter Gebel, his journey toward perfection almost complete. This novel is Mahfouz's most purely polemical work, directly engaging the issues of religion and politics that have been the strong subtexts of his previous fiction. It is, however, as enchanting a tale as any he has written. Highly recommended. Previewed in Prepub Alert, LJ 5/1/92.
- Paul E. Hutchison, Bellefonte, Pa.
Copyright 1992 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.
- Paul E. Hutchison, Bellefonte, Pa.
Copyright 1992 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.
Sell a Digital Version of This Book in the Kindle Store
If you are a publisher or author and hold the digital rights to a book, you can sell a digital version of it in our Kindle Store.
Learn more
What Other Items Do Customers Buy After Viewing This Item?
Customer Reviews
Most helpful customer reviews
By "downtownsb"
Format:Paperback
I am a fan of Naguib Mafouz, and I eagerly picked this novel up, hoping that it would be as transporting as Arabian Nights and Days. The journey of Ibn Fattouma disappoints: it has nowhere near the lyricism of Arabian Nights and Days or the sophisticated interweaving of fable, magic and reality.
Readers who enjoyed the Cairo Trilogy, a series of three realistic novels, and who want to sample Mafouz' more iridescent writing should not start with this book. That written, The Journey of Ibn Fattouma does have things to offer those interested in political science, false utopias, or even fledgling democracies.
Others reviews on the page have eloquently captured the different societies that Ibn Fattouma visits on his journey to Gebel. I wondered throughout the book if this was a parable for the Tower of Babel, a story found in the Christian Old Testament, the Hebrew Talmud and the Muslim Koran. In the story as I know it, God punished the Summerians for building a tower to heaven because they were trying to become God, or at least outshine him. The Tower becomes a symbol for perfection, and like many perfections, an unobtainable one. Thus, it was interesting to me that after Ibn Fattouma visits all these supposedly perfect societies Haira, Halba, Aman ('hope' in Arabic), he finally reaches Gebel, situated on a mountain.
Format:Paperback
Mahfouz's book The Journey of Ibn Fattouma is an incredible, poetic work which follows Qindil, Ibn Fattouma, from 'The Land of Islam' on a life-long quest to find Gebel, the land of perfection.
The only detractions I could make are that the translation, while flawless in its mechanics, is not as poetic as I imagine the original Arabic text to be (based on what I have read about the Arabic.) This comes with translation, however, and the work of turning it to English remains highly poetic, beautiful, and was clearly the work of a master in both languages. The other detraction is a stylistic one. Mahfouz's chapters all follow the same basic formula: Qindil arrives in a new place; Qindil's guide gives him a brief rundown of it; Qindil explores the city; Qindil meets with a religious leader; Quindil gets in trouble because of a woman; Qindil leaves.
If you get past that, which seems not to be an insurmountable request, the work is an incredibly well crafted piece which explores the depth behind religion, religious freedom, hedonism, tolerance, perfection, and humanity.
If you like John Steinbeck or Toni Morrison, you're likely to enjoy Mahfouz as well. Clearly, he is a writer who puts considerable thought into the meaning, the higher purpose, of his work.
By Luc REYNAERT
Format:Paperback
Ibn Fattouna flees around the world, living in all sorts of political systems, but all systems fail because of war.
Magnificent political parable, exemplified by the tragic destiny of one man and his household.
A masterpiece.
Magnificent political parable, exemplified by the tragic destiny of one man and his household.
A masterpiece.
Want to see more reviews on this item?
›
Go to Amazon.com to see all 17 reviews
4.3 out of 5 stars
Most recent customer reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
George Orwell of the late 20th century!
It is a wonderful masterpiece as 1984. Great comparison of cultures! You get more than what you pay for it.
Published on Dec 29 2001
5.0 out of 5 stars
a late coming menu of choice for 1960's egypt
"The son of fatouma" leaves his home, which he descries as a middle ages cairo (when cairo was a beacon of civilisation in an ignorant world), but the lands he sees are... Read more
Published on Sep 22 2000 by mansour
5.0 out of 5 stars
A great read, but I am left unfulfilled......
But perhaps this is the truth in Mahfouz' words; there is not always fulfillment. Ibn's journey was enchanting, although his attitudes sometimes thwarted me. Read more
Published on Oct 6 1999 by Lah-Rah Veevy
5.0 out of 5 stars
A splendid journey
Naguib Mahfouz did it again, this time he takes you on a journey in the middle east, with events that lead you to wonder. Read more
Published on Feb 27 1999
5.0 out of 5 stars
Definetly a book to read
This book takes you on a journey that you'll never forget. A powerfull book with events that keep you wondering.
Published on Feb 27 1999
4.0 out of 5 stars
An Allegorial Journey
A young Muslim undertakes this allegorical journey to to reach the Utopian land so often described in the books he has
read. Read more
read. Read more
Published on April 26 1997
Listmania!
Look for similar items by category
Feedback
Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images?
|
