The Search (novel)
Encyclopedia
The Search is a novel
written and published by Nobel Prize
-winning author Naguib Mahfouz
in 1964. It was translated from Arabic
into English
in 1987 by Mohamed Islam, edited by Magdi Wahba
, and published by Doubleday in 1991.
The name of the hero's father in the novel "Sayed Sayed Al-Rehaimi" is reminiscent of an omnipotent supreme being, the name in Arabic means literally "Master Master the Compassionate", his last name being very close to al-Rahim, one of the 99 names of God
in the Quran. Saber's search for him seems to be a thinly disguised search for God or Meaning
.
This theme of search for meaning or way of existence is comparable to other novels by Mahfouz, notably Children of Gebelawi
(1959), The Beggar
(1965), Heart of the Night
(1975) and The Harafish
(1977).
Novel
A novel is a book of long narrative in literary prose. The genre has historical roots both in the fields of the medieval and early modern romance and in the tradition of the novella. The latter supplied the present generic term in the late 18th century....
written and published by Nobel Prize
Nobel Prize
The Nobel Prizes are annual international awards bestowed by Scandinavian committees in recognition of cultural and scientific advances. The will of the Swedish chemist Alfred Nobel, the inventor of dynamite, established the prizes in 1895...
-winning author Naguib Mahfouz
Naguib Mahfouz
Naguib Mahfouz was an Egyptian writer who won the 1988 Nobel Prize for Literature. He is regarded as one of the first contemporary writers of Arabic literature, along with Tawfiq el-Hakim, to explore themes of existentialism. He published over 50 novels, over 350 short stories, dozens of movie...
in 1964. It was translated from Arabic
Arabic language
Arabic is a name applied to the descendants of the Classical Arabic language of the 6th century AD, used most prominently in the Quran, the Islamic Holy Book...
into English
English language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
in 1987 by Mohamed Islam, edited by Magdi Wahba
Magdi Wahba
Magdi Wahba was an Egyptian university professor, Johnsonian scholar, and lexicographer.He was born in Alexandria in 1925 the son of a high court judge and later cabinet minister. His mother had been educated at Cheltenham Ladies' College and Oxford University...
, and published by Doubleday in 1991.
Symbolism and Comparison with Other Works
The original Arabic title is الطريق which means "the way" or "the quest" and is very close to the word used by Muslim sufists [called Sufist Ways الطرق الصوفية] for the different "ways" or "schools" by which to approach God.The name of the hero's father in the novel "Sayed Sayed Al-Rehaimi" is reminiscent of an omnipotent supreme being, the name in Arabic means literally "Master Master the Compassionate", his last name being very close to al-Rahim, one of the 99 names of God
99 Names of God
The 99 Names of God, , are the Names of God by which Muslims regard God and which are described in the Qur'an, and Sunnah, amongst other places. There is, according to hadith, a special group of 99 names but no enumeration of them...
in the Quran. Saber's search for him seems to be a thinly disguised search for God or Meaning
Meaning of life
The meaning of life constitutes a philosophical question concerning the purpose and significance of life or existence in general. This concept can be expressed through a variety of related questions, such as "Why are we here?", "What is life all about?", and "What is the meaning of it all?" It has...
.
This theme of search for meaning or way of existence is comparable to other novels by Mahfouz, notably Children of Gebelawi
Children of Gebelawi
Children of Gabalawi, is a novel by the Egyptian writer and Nobel laureate Naguib Mahfouz. It is also known by its Egyptian dialectal transliteration, Awlad Haretna, formal Arabic transliteration, Awlaadu Haaratena and by the alternative translated transliteral Arabic title of "Children of Our...
(1959), The Beggar
The Beggar
The Beggar is a 1965 novella by Naguib Mahfouz about the failure to find meaning in existence. It is set in post-revolutionary Cairo during the time of Gamal Abdel Nasser.-Plot summary:...
(1965), Heart of the Night
Heart of the Night
Heart of the Night is the nineteenth album by Spyro Gyra, released in 1996 .- Track listing :#"Heart of the Night" – 4:34#"De La Luz" – 5:14#"Westwood Moon" – 4:56...
(1975) and The Harafish
The Harafish
The Harafish is a novel written by Naguib Mahfouz. It comprises a series of episodes in a dozen generations of a family from the Egyptian urban rabble . Many of the members of this family become clan chiefs in an alley in the city; some of them are benefactors to the other members of the...
(1977).
Release details
- 1987, USA, Columbia University Press ISBN 977-424-160-6, Pub date ? ? 1987, hardcover (in translation)
- 1991, USA, Anchor Books ISBN 0-385-26460-7, Pub date ? May 1991, paperback (in translation)
- 1991, USA, Doubleday ISBN 0-385-26459-3, Pub date June 1, 1991, hardcover (in translation)