Sugar Street by Naguib Mahfouz

“Sugar Street” is the third and final volume of Naguib Mahfouz’s “Cairo Trilogy,” published in 1957. The novel is set in the 1940s in Cairo, Egypt, and focuses on the lives of the members of the Abd al-Jawad family.

The main character of the novel is Ahmad Abd al-Jawad, who is now an old man and a patriarch of the family. His children have grown up and are now facing their own challenges in life. One of his sons, Kamal, is a university student who is struggling to find his place in the world, while his daughter Aisha is married to a man who is cheating on her.

The novel explores the themes of tradition versus modernity, as the characters struggle with the changing social and political landscape of Egypt. The characters also grapple with issues of identity, particularly in relation to their roles as Muslims and Egyptians.

Mahfouz’s writing style is characterized by its realism and attention to detail, as he paints a vivid picture of life in Cairo during this time period. Through the experiences of the Abd al-Jawad family, he provides a window into the complexities of Egyptian society, including issues of class, gender, and religion.

Overall, “Sugar Street” is a powerful and moving conclusion to the “Cairo Trilogy,” offering a rich and nuanced portrait of life in Cairo during a time of significant social and political change.