Children of Gebelawi by Naguib Mahfouz
"Children of Gebelawi" is a novel that allegorically presents the stories of Moses, Jesus, and Mohammed through the lives of characters in a Cairo neighborhood. The patriarch, Gebelawi, has five children, each representing a different prophet or religious figure, and their struggles mirror the religious and philosophical conflicts of the 20th century. The book explores themes of power, faith, and redemption, and it sparked controversy upon publication due to its portrayal of sacred figures.
The 1100th greatest book of all time
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This book is on the following lists:
- 32nd on 100 Best Novels, in Translation, Since 1900 (CounterPunch)
- 254th on Our Users' Favorite Books of All Time (The Greatest Books Users)
- Top 100 Works in World Literature (Norwegian Book Clubs, with the Norwegian Nobel Institute)