Mahfuz: “Beginning” not the “End”

Abstract

After more than a century we continue to discuss about the great pioneer of the Arabic literature. Na÷?b Ma?f?? identified by
some critics “The prince of the Arabic novel”, by others “The father of realism” and “Son of the Egyptian Land”. Actually, I’d prefer,
specially at this time, if we call him “The Arabic literature ambassador”: his talent, dedication, intelligence and his strong belonging
emotion to the alleys of the Old Islamic Cairo have led him to the whole world. But if Ma?f?? has arrived to the globalism obtaining the
Nobel 1988, it would be unfair overlook the efforts the his ancestors or ignore the new generation of Arab writers. In other words, I think
that Ma?f?? is to be considered the “beginning” not the “end” of a new reciprocal estimation between the Arabic and the other literatures.
With “Beginning and end” Ma?f?? has discovered the way to compose his most great Trilogy: according to some critics “Beginning and
end” is well thought-out the prehistory of his magnum opus.