Naguib Mahfouz and Maxim Gorky: Literary

Under the “Cultural Experiences” program at the Cairo International Book Fair, the Russian House in Cairo organized a seminar titled “Naguib Mahfouz and Maxim Gorky: Points of Similarity.” The session was moderated by Sherif Ged, Head of Cultural Activities at the Russian House, and attended by Dr. Mohamed Nasr El-Gebaly, Professor of Russian Literature, as part of the 57th edition of the Fair.

The seminar offered an in-depth perspective on cultural relations between Egypt and Russia, shedding light on the influence of Russian literature on Naguib Mahfouz’s literary journey, as well as the global significance of Maxim Gorky in world literature.

Sherif Ged opened the discussion by conveying thanks from Vadim Zaichikov, Director of Russian Cultural Centers in Egypt, to the Ministry of Culture and the Book Fair administration for their cooperation in organizing the seminar. He emphasized that the coming period will witness diverse cultural activities aimed at strengthening cultural ties between the two countries.

Ged highlighted the strong connections between Egyptian and Russian literature, noting that both Naguib Mahfouz and Maxim Gorky transcended local boundaries to achieve universal literary status. He pointed out that censorship was a shared challenge for both writers; just as Mahfouz’s “Children of the Alley” was banned for long periods in Egypt, Gorky’s works—such as “Mother”—faced similar restrictions in Russia due to their revolutionary themes and focus on marginalized communities.

He stressed that both authors excelled in portraying the lives of the underprivileged, and that their works have been translated into most of the world’s major languages, earning them widespread global recognition.

Ged also highlighted the cultural role of Dr. Mohamed Nasr El-Gebaly, whose efforts expanded translation between Arabic and Russian and contributed to establishing new Russian language departments in Egypt. His work reflects a long-term commitment to building cultural bridges between the two peoples, introducing Russian literature to Arab readers and vice versa.

For his part, Dr. El-Gebaly spoke about Naguib Mahfouz’s deep connection with Russian literature from an early stage, confirming that Mahfouz read Tolstoy, Chekhov, Dostoevsky, and Gorky. He drew inspiration from Russian realism in portraying everyday life and the psychological struggles of his characters. Mahfouz absorbed the techniques of Russian realist novels and applied them to Egyptian society, successfully depicting the details of the Egyptian alley in a way that resonated with global readers.

El-Gebaly also discussed similarities between Gorky and Mahfouz in their treatment of marginalized characters, noting that these figures are not entirely innocent but active participants in their societies—reflecting profound psychological and moral depth in their narratives.

He cited Chekhov’s short story “The Death of a Government Clerk” as an example of how Russian literature delved deeply into the human psyche, a realism that Mahfouz later echoed in his own works.

El-Gebaly further pointed to Gorky’s influential role in Russia, where he succeeded in creating a space between the state and society, enriching Russian literature with narratives about workers and the poor in a way that avoided direct confrontation with authority. This made his works a model of purposeful realist writing.

He emphasized the importance of translation between Arabic and Russian in spreading this shared cultural heritage, noting that literary interaction between Egypt and Russia dates back to the 19th century and has enriched both Arab and Russian literature.

Dr. El-Gebaly & Ged

In closing, Sherif Ged reaffirmed that literature is a powerful tool for cultural understanding, and that true translation goes beyond transferring words—it conveys the spirit and culture of a text, allowing readers deeper insight into humanity and society.

The seminar presented a living example of civilizational dialogue through literature, serving as a cultural bridge between Egypt and Russia and reflecting the depth of historical relations between the two countries in both literary and cultural fields.