 1988 Nobel Prize in Literature | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Naguib Mahfouz | ||||
 "who, through works rich in nuance – now clear-sightedly realistic, now evocatively ambiguous – has formed an Arabian narrative art that applies to all mankind." | ||||
| Date |
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| Location | Stockholm, Sweden | |||
| Presented by | Swedish Academy | |||
| First award | 1901 | |||
| Website | Official website | |||
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The1988Nobel Prize in Literature was awarded to the Egyptian writerNaguib Mahfouz (1911–2006) "who, through works rich in nuance – now clear-sightedly realistic, now evocatively ambiguous – has formed an Arabian narrative art that applies to all mankind."[1] He is the first and onlyArabic–Egyptian recipient of the prize.[2][3]
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 asRādūbīs ("Rhadopis of Nubia", 1943), and he frequently usesCairo as the setting for his tales. His famousAl-Thulāthiyyah ("The Trilogy", 1956–57):Bayn al-qaṣrayn ("Palace Walk", 1956),Qaṣr al-shawq ("Palace of Desire", 1957), andAl-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 themAwlād ḥāratinā ("Children of Gebelawi", 1959),Tharthara Fawq Al-Nīl ("Adrift on the Nile", 1966), andAfrāḥ al-qubba ("Wedding Song", 1981). Many of his stories have been adapted for film.[2][4]
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. The prize was accepted by his two daughters at the award ceremony in Stockholm in December 1988. Mahfouz donated most of the prize money tocharities.[5]
Naguib Mahfohz'sNobel lecture was read at the Swedish Academy on 8 December 1988 byMohamed Salmawy, first in Arabic, then in English.[6]
At the award ceremony in Stockholm on 10 December 1988,Sture Allén, permanent secretary of theSwedish Academy, said:
Naguib Mahfouz has an unrivalled position as spokesman for Arabic prose. Through him, in the cultural sphere to which he belongs, the art of the novel and the short story has attained international standards of excellence, the result of a synthesis of classical Arabic tradition, European inspiration and personal artistry.[7]
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.[7]
