Delicious story of a master storyteller, about a patriarch Ahmed and his family in Cairo, around and shortly after the first world war. The man lives a double life: at home very strict and even cruel, his children and his wife tremble for him, but outdoors he is amiable and he leads a dissolute life, with music, wine and women. But throughout the story some cracks appear in the man's reputation and it ends up dramatically.

This book seems to offer a beautiful introduction to the Arab culture, specifically in the Cairo setting; and at the same time it is intertwined with the political events of that time, the struggle against the British occupation. Mahfouz handsomely bestowes humor and self doubt upon the, in our eyes, reprehensible character of Ahmed. This is only the first part of the Cairo-trilogy; I hope to read the other parts soon.