Roundtable at Naguib Mahfouz Museum Debates Myths Surrounding His Literature

On the occasion of the 114th anniversary of the birth of world-renowned writer Naguib Mahfouz, the Naguib Mahfouz Museum and Creativity Center at Takiyat Mohamed Abu El-Dahab, affiliated with the Cultural Development Fund headed by architect Hamdy El-Settouhy, is organizing a roundtable discussion entitled “Common Myths About the Literature of Naguib Mahfouz.”

The event will take place at 6:00 p.m. on Sunday, December 21.

The roundtable will bring together a distinguished group of academics and critics specializing in Mahfouz’s works, including Professor Dr. Hussein Hammouda, Professor Dr. Alaa El-Gabry, Professor Dr. Mohamed Salim Shousha, critic Dr. Shehata El-Hou, critic Dr. Mahmoud Abdel-Bary, and critic Dr. Amal El-Gamal. The discussion will be moderated by critic Dr. Mostafa El-Qazzaz.

The discussion aims to challenge the widespread notion that Mahfouz’s literature is limited to documenting the social history of old Cairo, while highlighting the profound philosophical and existential dimensions that go beyond realistic narration in his works. It also seeks to correct the misconception of confining Mahfouz to pure realism and to explore his symbolic and experimental literary approaches.

Participants will also analyze selected examples from Mahfouz’s most prominent works, including The Cairo Trilogy, Midaq Alley, Children of the Alley, and The Journey of Ibn Fattouma, offering fresh perspectives on the depth and diversity of his literary legacy.