Children of the Alley: A Novel

Synopsis

The tumultuous alley of this rich and intricate novel (first published in arabic in 1959) is inhabited by a delightful egyptian family, but is also the setting for a second, hidden, and more daring narrative: the spiritual history of humankind. The men and women of a modern cairo neighborood unwittingly reenact the lives of their holy ancestors: from the feudal lord who disowns one son for diabolical pride and puts another to the test, to the savior of a succeeding generation who frees his people from bondage.