Midaq Alley

Midaq Alley is the central setting for the novel. What other settings are described in the novel, and how do they relate thematically to the plot and characters?

What are the elements of historical realism that Naguib Mahfouz employs in Midaq Alley?

Midaq Alley was written in 1947, shortly after the end of World War II, when Egypt was still experiencing British occupation. How was Mahfouz’s novel received when it was published and how did it resonate with public opinion at the time? Cite authoritative external sources in your response.