Miramar - Naguib Mahfouz
Title: Miramar Author: Naguib Mahfouz Translated into English by Fatma Moussa Mahmoud Publisher: Anchor Books, New York Year published: 1993 181 pages Set in Alexandria during a time of political and social transition in Egypt, this novel centers on a once-grand pension called Miramar, run by an aging woman named Mariana. The pension becomes a microcosm of the changing Egyptian society, bringing together characters from various backgrounds and ideologies. At the heart of the story is Zohra, a beautiful and ambitious young peasant girl who seeks to escape poverty and traditional constraints by working at Miramar. Her presence and aspirations disrupt the lives of the pension’s residents and become a point of contention among them. The narrative unfolds through the perspectives of four male residents—Amer Wagdi, Hosny Allam, Mansour Bahy, and Sarhan al-Beheiry—each of whom recounts events in their own voice, offering conflicting views of the people around them and revealing th...