NYU Press Studies in the Short Fiction of Mahfouz and Idris: Studies in Arabic Short Fiction: 16 (NYU Studies in NE Civilization)

In this comparative approach to the works of two major contemporary Egyptian writers, Mona Mikhail identifies existentialism as a major force in their work. Her close examination of the images and metaphors that recur in the short fiction of those two writers shows strong affinities with the works of Ernest Hemingway and Albert Camus, concentrating on a central preoccupation with the theme of death as a constant in he works of all four writers. Mikhail shows how Mafouz and Idris not only successfully incorporate myth and folklore but also draw upon the rich heritage of classical Arabic Literature as a source for their work. Review "Examines the history of this seaside resort city to explore the larger dynamics of Progressivism, urban politics, commercial leisure, and sabbatarianism. . . . A solid local history and more. Its integration of local and national issues raises questions that reverberate far beyond Atlantic City."-"Journal of American History", About the Author Mona Mikhail is professor of Near Eastern Languages and Literatures, Hagop Kevorkian Center for Near Eastern Studies, New York University, and is the author of several books of Arab civilization, including images if Arab Women.