Cover of Palace of Desire

Palace of Desire

by Naguib Mahfouz · 1957

The Cairo Trilogy seriesbook 2 of 3Next:Sugar Street(1957) →

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The sensual and provocative second volume in the Cairo Trilogy, PalaceOf Desirefollows the Al Jawad family into the awakening world of the 1920's and the sometimes violent clash between Islamic ideals, personal dreams and modern realities.

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Having given up his vices after his son's death, ageing patriarch Al-Sayyid Ahmad pursues an arousing lute-player - only to find she has married his eldest son. His rebellious children struggle to move beyond his domination as they test the loosening reins of societal and parental control. And Ahmad's youngest son, in an unforgettable portrayal of unrequited love, ardently courts the sophisticated daughter of a rich Europeanised family.

Genre
historical fictionhistorical fictionMore like thisLess of thisliterary fictionliterary fictionMore like thisLess of this
Themes
islamislamMore like thisLess of thismoviesmoviesMore like thisLess of thissagasagaMore like thisLess of thistraveltravelMore like thisLess of this
Setting
1950s1950sMore like thisLess of thisEgyptEgyptMore like thisLess of thisArabArabMore like thisLess of thisCairoCairoMore like thisLess of thisAfricaAfricaMore like thisLess of this
Subject
traveltravelMore like thisLess of this
Audience
adult
Length
long · 432 pages

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