Pages from Naguib Mahfouz's memoirs - Raja'a al-Naqqash

Although the great writer Naguib Mahfouz refused to write his autobiography, the great critic Rajaa al-Naqqash succeeded in convincing him to tell it to him instead of writing it. Over the course of 18 months from August 1991, Mahfouz narrated his biography to the discussion, highlighting many aspects of his personality, most of which were surprises to his readers and fans. Here the great writer gives his opinion on every little and big thing about literature, cinema and politics in Egypt, describing the stages of his childhood and the experiences of his youth, then dealing with his novels that sparked journalistic and political crises, as well as giving frank opinions on the leaders of Egypt since Saad Zaghloul until now, as well as his story with the Nobel Prize and its impact in his life. Before the "Naqqash" concludes his book by reviewing the assassination attempt on "Mahfouz" and the circumstances of the accident and the case, this and many other secrets that were published for the first time can be found in the book, which represents an unofficial biography of "Naguib Mahfouz". “Rajaa al-Naqqash” (1934-2008) is one of the most important critics in the Arab world. He discovered many talents and names that became icons in Arab culture, such as “Mahmoud Darwish”, Tayeb Salih and others. Among his most important books: “Mahmoud Darwish, Poet of the Occupied Land,” “Between El Madawy and Fadwa Touqan,” “In the Love of Naguib Mahfouz.”