The 1988 Nobel Prize in Literature was awarded to the Egyptian writer Naguib Mahfouz (1911âÂÂ2006) "who, through works rich in nuance â now clear-sightedly realistic, now evocatively ambiguous â has formed an Arabian narrative art that applies to all mankind." He is the first and only ArabicâÂÂEgyptian recipient of the prize.
The writings of Naguib Mahfouz address some of life's most important issues, such as the passage of time, society and norms, knowledge and faith, reason and love. Some of his early works are set in ancient Egypt such as RÃÂdà «bës ("Rhadopis of Nubia", 1943), and he frequently uses Cairo as the setting for his tales. His famous Al-ThulÃÂthiyyah ("The Trilogy", 1956âÂÂ57): Bayn al-qaá¹£rayn ("Palace Walk", 1956), Qaá¹£r al-shawq ("Palace of Desire", 1957), and Al-Sukkariyyah ("Sugar Street", 1957), describes prolifically modern Egyptian society. Though some of his later works have a more mystical or metaphysical quality, later works of his focused on the modern age and life in a changing society. 350 short stories and more than 30 novels make up Mahfouz's body of work, among them AwlÃÂd ḥÃÂratinà("Children of Gebelawi", 1959), Tharthara Fawq Al-Nël ("Adrift on the Nile", 1966), and AfrÃÂḥ al-qubba ("Wedding Song", 1981). Many of his stories have been adapted for film.
Widely read in Egypt and other Arabic countries, Mahfouz was largely unknown in the Western world at the time he was awarded the Nobel prize. While Mahfouz was controversial politically, he was a popular writer and the Nobel prize to him was well received throughout the Arab world. Edward Said, professor of English and comparative literature at Columbia University, said Mahfouz is "certainly the greatest of the living Arab novelists and one of the greatest living writers. I only find it surprising it took this long. It's a sign of antagonism between the Western and Arab worlds he didn't win before. He's certainly on a level with Balzac, Thomas Mann and Joyce."
The Nobel prize medal and diploma was accepted by his two daughters at the award ceremony in Stockholm in December 1988. Mahfouz donated most of the prize money to charities.
Naguib Mahfohz's Nobel lecture was read at the Swedish Academy on 8 December 1988 by Mohamed Salmawy, first in Arabic, then in English.
At the award ceremony in Stockholm on 10 December 1988, Sture Allén, permanent secretary of the Swedish Academy, said:
Naguib Mahfouz was unable to the attend the award ceremony. The prize was accepted by his daughters, Om Kalsoum Naguib Mahfouz and Fatma Naguib Mahfouz.