Alley of the Dagger

Hamida seeks revenge on her life in Zaqaq al-Madaq and strives to leave it for a luxurious and refined life. She works as a prostitute through the pimp Faraj, who takes her out of the poverty of the alley to a comfortable life. There is also Al-Boushi, who digs up the graves of the wealthy in search of wealth, and Dr. Zaita, who specializes in causing physical disabilities to beggars. All of them depict a vivid picture of Egyptian society during World War II. The novel was published in 1947, adapted into a film by director Hassan Imam in 1963, and a Mexican film starring Salma Hayek in 1995.