Videos and supplemental information for the Mission Impossible Book Group

Readings

Gender Roles: To learn more about gender roles in the novel, read the 20-page chapter “Naguib Mahfouz’s Trilogy: A National Allegory” from the book Gender, Nation, and the Arabic Novel by Hoda Elsadda.

Egyptian revolution of 1919: For a quick and easy overview of the political situation that Mahfouz writes about in Palace Walk, read “Egypt’s 1919 Revolution: The nation in 100 years” by Egyptian journalist Amira Howeidy in Ahram Online.

Early 20th Century Egyptian Entertainers: List of women who shifted the venue of their musical talents from private homes into theaters and nightclubs, eventually leading in the formation of mainstream entertainment for modern Arab life.

Mahfouz after winning the Nobel Prize: Journalist/editor Christopher Dickey writes about visiting Naguib Mahfouz after Mahfouz won the Nobel Prize in the 10-page essay: “Naguib Mahfouz: At The Ali Baba Cafe” (November 1989) from the book Vanity Fair’s Writers on Writers

Obituaries for Naguib Mahfouz: The Guardian | The New York Times | Los Angeles Times


Listenings

Sounds of Cairo: “Saving the Sounds of an Ancient City” by Siobhán O’Grady, Frank Hulley-Jones, Sarah Hashemi, Emma Talkoff and Sima Diab (Washington Post, May 23, 2022).

Note: Scroll down to hear different sounds.


Podcasts

The glamour & danger of Cairo’s 1920s nightlife scene: Raphael Cormack discusses the golden age of Cairo’s nightlife scene in the 1920s, and some of the enterprising women who dominated it (History Extra Podcast) 30 minutes.

Videos

Northwestern University scholar Ragy Mikhaeel discusses Cairo, Egypt & Palace Walk  |  55 minutes | Evanston Public Library | October 25, 2022

The Cairo Trilogy in Egypt Today | A discussion between Samia Mehrez and Hugh Eakin | 44 minutes | Lahore Literary Festival | Jan 7, 2019

What are the Jinn? | Let’s Talk About Religion with Filip Holm | 19 minutes | Oct 18, 2020


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