Product Description
Naguib Mahfouz, Egyptâs Nobel laureate for literature, was born in an old quarter of Cairo in 1911. His study of philosophy at what is now Cairo University greatly influenced his works,as did his wide readings, and his work in the government and in the Cinema Organization. Lifeâs Wisdom is a unique collection of quotations selected from this great authorâs works, offering philosophical insights on themes such as childhood, youth, love, marriage, war, freedom, death, the supernatural, the afterlife, the soul, immortality, and many other subjects
that take us through lifeâs journey.
Naguib Mahfouzâs works abound with words of wisdom. As Nadine Gordimer states in her foreword to one of his earlier books: "The essence of a writerâs being is in the work, not the personality, though the world values things otherwise, and would rather see what the writer
looks like on television than read where he or she really is to be found: in the writings." In keeping with Gordimerâs comment, Mahfouzâs true nature can be found in his writing. The quotations included here offer a broad, yet profound, insight into the writerâs philosophy gained through a lifeâs journey of experience and writing.
About the Author
NAGUIB MAHFOUZ was born in 1911 in the crowded Cairo district of Gamaliya. He studied philosophy at Cairo University, then worked in various government ministries until his retirement in 1971. His first three published novels were Khufu's Wisdom (1939), Rhadopis of Nubia (1943), and Thebes at War (1944), all of which are set in ancient Egypt. These political and philosophical critiques disguised as historical romances show the unmistakable signs of a burgeoning literary genius. He went on to write more than 35 other novel-length works, plus hundreds of short stories and numerous cinema plots and scenarios, many of which have been made into successful films. Naguib Mahfouz was awarded the Nobel prize for literature in 1988. In 2006, he died at the age of 95.
