The Day the Leader Was Killed

Not quite as enjoyable as the Cairo Trilogy but creative and an interesting read of an evolved style of writing.

Powerful novella with brief chapters about a love tragedy in Cairo, Egypt with significant political and religious undercurrents. It all ends in September 1981, the country groaning under the effects of years of economic liberalization and a retreating state. The already privileged, the well-connected and the ruthless grow fabulously rich, but many millions on fixed salaries lose out despite working second jobs, failing to keep up with inflation. The novella is primarily about Elwan and Randa, who grew up together, with their families’ apartments on top of the other. They have been in love and engaged for 11 years, even share the same employer. Now that they are both 26, they cannot afford to marry. They have only kissed.Their sad predicament affects everyone in their close circle of family and colleagues, esp. Elwan’s granddad, who is fond of him and tries to lift his spirits with wisdoms from the Book. he now devout octogenarian— living in with his son & his wife and grandson, passing his remaining days watching soaps on TV and reading the Book—is also keenly aware that Elwan and his parents live harsher lives in less hopeful times than he himself: when young, there was little opprobrium to fulfilling one’s natural desires, letting go, partying, drinking, consorting with generous prostitutes (all sins to be atoned for in later life). It was also easier to find affordable housing and marry young. Grandfather is a Sufi Muslim and would love to be able to perform miracles for Elwan and everyone like him. Aware of his spiritual limits, he increasingly welcomes meeting the angel the Almighty sends to collect His every creation’s soul.One character pronounces solemnly that Egypt in 1981 truly hit rock bottom, it cannot get any worse. What a prophecy! During a recently-decreed National Holiday, live on TV, Elwan’s frustration and fury finally explode. Then, nation-wide, TV-screens go dark, then come the sounds of military march music, then chants from the Book…

Always focusing on aspects of Egyptian social and political history, Nobel Prize-winning novelist Naguib Mahfouz here depicts three generations of one family as they try to survive the socially tumultuous period between the Six Day War with Israel in 1967 and the assassination of Anwar Sadat in 1981. The loss of the Six Day War in 1967 was a national humiliation for Egypt, which lost the Sinai Peninsula and the Gaza Strip, as a result. In 1973, President Anwar Sadat tried to regain the lost territories with a surprise attack that initiated the Yom Kippur War, but again Egypt failed to win a strong military victory. Sadat's willingness to negotiate with the Israelis, however, resulted in the Egyptians' regaining of the Sinai Peninsula in exchange for Egypt's recognition of Israel and the establishment of normal diplomatic relations under the Camp David Accords. Sadat was not popular at home, as a result.This tumultuous period was also a time of enormous economic hardships. Sadat had turned away from the Soviets, with whom Nasser had had a close association, and had established the Infitah, his attempt to establish a free-market economy in the desperately poor country. As Elwan Fawwaz Muhtashimi, one of the main characters in this novel says, however, "For this we cursed him, our hearts full of rancor. Ulimately, he [Sadat] was to keep for himself the fruits of victory, leaving us his Infitah, which only spelled out poverty and corruption. This is the crux of the matter."Alternating points of view among Muhtashimi Zayed, his grandson Elwan Fawwaz Muhtashimi, and Elwan's fiancée Randa Sulayman Mubarak, Mahfouz creates a novel which shows the domestic difficulties faced by educated Egyptian city-dwellers as they try to live their lives under this unpopular, less structured new economic system. Elwan and Randa have been engaged for eleven years, unable to marry because Elwan's salary is too low for him to save enough for an apartment, furniture, and the expenses of a family. Elwan and Randa both work for the same employer, and their relationship with each other and with their boss shows the stresses of their long engagement. The interrelationships between their two families also become tense, and as each narrator describes his/her own feelings, Mahfouz speeds ahead with his story, which at times feels as if it is moving in double-time toward its ironic conclusion.Keeping the narrative firmly fixed on the everyday lives of his characters, Mahfouz shows the failures of the political system and the desperate acts to which some residents are driven by circumstance. Though the novella is short, Mahfouz provides a rare and often ironic vision of life in Cairo during the period which concludes with Anwar Sadat's assassination. As Elwan walks in the city that night, he sees" a trace of death on every passerby," but as he thinks about the assassination, he believes that "Tomorrow cannot be worse than today. Even chaos is better than despair." n Mary Whipple Akhenaten: Dweller in Truth The Mirage: A Modern Arabic Novel (Modern Arabic Novels) Karnak Cafe Morning and Evening Talk

I read this book first in 1996, in a Literature class the American University of Cairo.I remember Professor Mehrez saying how foreign the press announced the knew about Sadat's death before many in Egypt knew.A couple weeks ago I visited the Sixth Floor Museum in Dallas- which recreated and provided a thorough context of the JFK assassination.I was reminded of this novel.When I read this novel again, I wish I had a better understanding of Egyptian 20th century history.I liked the snapshot of Egyptian of family life and love in 1981. You could feel the frustration in the grandson's and his fiancee's position. The grandfather was very religious and this character was also very relatable.With all three characters, I felt ignorant not understanding the political or social context.Professor Mehrez your insights would have been helpful.

Najib Mahfouz in his compact dry story details the hardships faced by the people of Egypt from the economic liberation. Intifah, Anwar Sadat's open-door economic policy has increased disparities between the rich and poor, creating havoc in lives of its citizens. In this economic meltdown is Fawad and his fiance Randa whose commitment for each other is tested by realities of times.In a subtle undertone, this novel has reflections to the struggle faced by masses presently in the middle east. Interesting aspect of this novel are the personal battles faced between self righteousness vs corruption, advancements vs traditions.

I've got most of Mahfouz books in my library, really enjoy his works, lots of "words of wisdom" a fine and delicate "connective tissue" bridging past and present.