"Children of the Alley" (AKA "Children of Gabalawi") is both a realistic and an allegorical novel that consists of two stories simultaneously. On the year the book began to be published as a serial in Al-Ahram, it was banned for ten years, after which it was published for the first time in book format in Beirut. The story, as I mentioned, has two faces. The first is that of an enormous family and its descendants. And the second is the religious history of mankind, with the prophets, the legends, and in the end, the scientific revolution. The background is the "Gabalawi Alley", which has a unique role, just like the "Midaq Alley", or the alley in "The Harafish". I can say without a doubt that Mahfouz is "Proust of the Arabs".

Children of the Alley is an incredible collection of stories about the lives of the descendants of an Egyptian man, Gabalawi, who takes on God-like significance as his children populate the alley that grows up surrounding his gated mansion. The novel was originally published in Arabic in 1959, under the title Awlad haratina. The English version, published in 1996, was translated by Peter Theroux.

The novel is broken into five distinct "stories," each focused on the life of one member of the Gabalawi family or his descendants. The first story introduces Gabalawi himself, and his cruel sense of justice which ultimately banishes both of his sons into the desert surrounding the mansion. This sets the stage for the evolution of the alley and the feuds that would eventually develop between the sons and their own families as they seek out ways to return to the ideal of life as it had been lived inside the estate gates.

Mahfouz weaves a lovely tale following successive generations through their triumphs and sufferings, exploring the importance of hope and spirituality, morals, justice and a people's sense of history in the face of constant opression by gangs. Each story focuses on the emergence of a "savior" who delivers the alley's residents from the evil gang rulers, establishing peaceful, prosperous eras. But, after each great savior dies, the people of the alley inevitably fall back into the greed and power lust that leads them back into gang rule.

In this portrayal of the cyclical nature of the alley, Mahfouz makes a bold statement about a people that praises their heroes through songs and poetry, yet who never actually retain the lessons taught by those heroes.

An engrossing novel, Children of the Alley will entrance you with its prose-like qualities, which fashion a history as beautiful and intricate as the designs on a Persian carpet. With such a talent for evocative description, it is easy to see why Mahfouz was awarded the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1988.

This is a wonderful book describing the history of the world through happenings of an alley in Cairo. I was impressed with the story, re-telling stories about the lives of Judeo-Chrisitan and Muslim prophets in a whole new light. If you read one Arabic book, this is the one to read. Enjoy

Here, again, Mahfouz continues in the direction he started to assume in "The Thief and The Dogs." This one I can say had a better plot, even though I did not think so when I was reading it.

In this story, we have a social worker who lost his work after revolution. He was successful in his job, was about to marry the woman of his dreams, and was in the verge of being a first class citizen. Things change, however, and he becomes jobless. He takes a big vacation to Alexandria and so many things take place from there on.

Here, Mahfouz, who got used to writing in this new style, explores all possible things occurring to this man, and he even makes him suffer in war. He uses his simple sophisticated language to explain all the events.

The ending was a bit shaky to my taste. There was, in fact, no ending, for all I care. It is one of those "and life goes on" where you do not know what comes of the heroes.

All in all, the book is worth reading, it might even give you some delightful time, but still I like the old Mahfouz's style.

In this novel dated from his "Symbolist"-period (or 3rd phase of Mahfouz recognized career), Mahzfouz presents the life of an ex-Wafdist, who formerly was a ruthless officer of the deposed party: Egypt is now ruled by Nasser's regime; but Isa, the main character, is still living in an out-dated time, refreshing his memory with past events and refusing to see the present changes. The way of introducing the manners and thoughts of Isa is brillantly convincent, upto the point of letting the reader to get a deep insight of his innermost motivations and feelings. Isa is an "historical outsider", he lives out of his times, and all this leads him to an actual "psychological eclipse".The span of time covered by the novel is lengther than in other writings of his, from the same years: occurrences happen in a longer period, happenings become in a slower pace. Isa's past is told through flashbacks and mind-flowing thoughts. What is a surprise is the end: the abrupt conclusion has left many critics hanging on; I think that this book deals with the "autumn" of a man, but that Life always give a chance to "find oneself again", such as the "grocer" return once and again to the same place after it has migrated God knows where. A nice and human-touching book.

I have read several of Mahfouz's books, and in my opinion, this is NOT one of his best. I do not enjoy stream-of-consciousness writing. We read this book in our bookclub, and several of us found his writing style very confusing, necessitating continual re-reading to find out who is talking, and about whom, and to whom. Nevertheless, the book is full of psychological implications, as it is four character's viewpoints about the same people and incidents. This is Mahfouz at his worst, and most confusing. If you want to read Mahfouz at his BEST, read instead The Cairo Trilogy. The first book in that trilogy is one of the best books I have ever read, and that one is not written in the stream-of-consciousness style.

One expects nothing less than brilliance from Mahfouz. And this novel of Middle Eastern values and traditions is another one of Mahfouz's masterpieces. There are great metaphors between the characters' lives on and off their theatrical stage. Definitely recommended!

When I take a look at the list of the translated works of Mahfouz from Arabic to English I fell petty. This man, being one of the best (if not the best) Arabic novelists, is not really well appreciated in the West. I am not trying to imply anything here. It just so happens that Maxim Gorky, the greatest Russian Novelist, is also ignored. You cannot, for example, find the complete collection of his short stories translated to English, which really deprives so many readers from his capturing style.

When you view the ratings the readers had given to Mahfouz's works, you would find that they have really enjoyed his singular style. It is unique, as a matter of fact. He was actually affected by the Western and Russian giants in his writing style.

This story "Midaq Alley," with midaq meaning an object being hit, just like an anvil, was written after 6 other literary works. The first one was a collection of fine short stories, and for a starter in literature, I might say they have some elements of genius. Then he went to write three historical novels, evidently affected by Sir Walter Scott, situated in old Egypt. I did not like those three, even though the language (in Arabic) was excellent. Then he started his real career with "The New Cairo," which is the name of a quarter in Cairo, followed by "Khan Al-Khalili," both being excellent reads.

I was disappointed, thus, by seeing this story. It is not all that bad, but I did not see the use of much of the occurrences and the plot could have been reduced to a short story. Do not take me wrong, I enjoyed it after all, but when I compare it to "The New Cairo" and the "Khan Al-Khalili" I cannot but give it 3 stars.

The story speaks about the life styles of people living in a popular quarter called "Al-Midaq Alley," which is a little bigger than an alley itself. So many characters appear in the plot, and Mahfouz has done a great job describing their lives and feelings. The story is actually centered about a girl who is about to leave the alley and start a business in "prostitution." She has a lover, and the story is mainly accounting the suffering of her negligence of him and her suffering from poverty.

Mahfouz is a popular writer and would always give you the truth, whole truth, and nothing but the truth. He describes in this novel the true feelings of a boys loving café master, an old spinster trying to hunt a husband, and a beggar providing a dentist with golden teeth.

If you want to know something about Egypt of the 1940's (like I did), you are more than welcome to read this novel, which, I guarantee, will not bore you.

Having read the other reviews, just wanted to add a mention of Mahfouz's style as one of a unusual music, which may be strenuous to some but is an enchantment if you get into it. Bravo to the translator !

This novel is the perfect distillation of Mafouz' brilliance as a writer. A slice-of-life in Midaq Alley, the characters are carefully wrought and distinct, complete with idiosyncrasies. From Uum Hamida, who brokers a marriage for the well-heeled Mrs. Saniya Afify, to Zaitas the cripple-maker, each has a role in the tapestry of life as lived in the alley.

Like the Cairo Trilogy, Mafouz creates his own rhythm and style while adapting the novel format, one not commonly found in Arabic literature when he began writing novels. His plot revolves around the denizens of Midaq Alley and their every day yearnings for happiness, love and prosperity. Whether you are familiar with this author, or this is your first Mafouz novel, it is an excellent example of the unique talent that allows the reader an intimate view of the characters common to this man's vast insight into humanity.