The Journey of Ibn Fattouma [Paperback]

Naguib Mahfouz (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 1, 1993

In this pithy, powerful parable, the masterly Naguib Mahfouz explores life's secrets and the mysterious maze of the human heart--a mystical and lyrical Pilgrim's Progress set in a mythical, timeless Middle East.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

In this short, intermittently provocative fable, first published in Arabic in 1983, the Nobel Prize-winning Egyptian author of the Cairo Trilogy ponders the question: What is the best way to organize a society? Betrayed by his sweetheart, young Ibn Fattouma of "the land of Islam" begins a journey in search of wisdom. In Mashriq, whose citizens go naked and worship the moon, he marries Arousa, a pagan woman. Thrown out of Mashriq for trying to bring up his son as a Muslim, he next stops in Haira, a land whose bloody king is worshiped as God. Ibn Fattouma escapes imprisonment for Halba, where all religions are welcomed and Muslim homosexuals peacefully demonstrate for gay rights. There he marries a Muslim female pediatrician who teaches him the value of an Islam "of independent judgment." Next the hero visits Aman, a communist state with full employment but no personal freedoms. He never reaches his ultimate goal, Gebel, land of perfection. Mahfouz's pithy parable mocks the hypocrisy of nations that wage war and maintain empire in the name of brotherhood and freedom.
Copyright 1992 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

From Library Journal

Fattouma is disappointed in love, so he sets out seeking comfort in wisdom. His goal is the fabled land of Gebel, from which no one has ever returned. First, though, his caravan must pass through five other countries, each distinct in governance and religion, and each delaying Ibn for years. Mashriq is despotic, peopled by naked slaves, and here Ibn falls in love with Arousa and starts a family. War separates them, and he pursues her through Haira, a theocratic police state; Halba, the land of freedom; and Communist Aman. Finally, from Ghuroub, where only reason is worshipped, he leaves to enter Gebel, his journey toward perfection almost complete. This novel is Mahfouz's most purely polemical work, directly engaging the issues of religion and politics that have been the strong subtexts of his previous fiction. It is, however, as enchanting a tale as any he has written. Highly recommended. Previewed in Prepub Alert, LJ 5/1/92.
- Paul E. Hutchison, Bellefonte, Pa.
Copyright 1992 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 160 pages
• Publisher: Anchor; 1st Anchor Books Ed edition (October 1, 1993)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0385423349
• ISBN-13: 978-0385423342
• Product Dimensions: 5.1 x 0.4 x 8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 6.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (17 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #189,338 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars 160 Pages of Poetry, March 3, 2004

By 

Kharmic Tide Pool (Chicago, IL) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Journey of Ibn Fattouma (Paperback)

Mahfouz's book The Journey of Ibn Fattouma is an incredible, poetic work which follows Qindil, Ibn Fattouma, from 'The Land of Islam' on a life-long quest to find Gebel, the land of perfection.

The only detractions I could make are that the translation, while flawless in its mechanics, is not as poetic as I imagine the original Arabic text to be (based on what I have read about the Arabic.) This comes with translation, however, and the work of turning it to English remains highly poetic, beautiful, and was clearly the work of a master in both languages. The other detraction is a stylistic one. Mahfouz's chapters all follow the same basic formula: Qindil arrives in a new place; Qindil's guide gives him a brief rundown of it; Qindil explores the city; Qindil meets with a religious leader; Quindil gets in trouble because of a woman; Qindil leaves.

If you get past that, which seems not to be an insurmountable request, the work is an incredibly well crafted piece which explores the depth behind religion, religious freedom, hedonism, tolerance, perfection, and humanity.

If you like John Steinbeck or Toni Morrison, you're likely to enjoy Mahfouz as well. Clearly, he is a writer who puts considerable thought into the meaning, the higher purpose, of his work.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars War is the father of everybody (Heraclitus), September 28, 2002

By 

Luc REYNAERT (Beernem, Belgium) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Journey of Ibn Fattouma (Paperback)

Ibn Fattouna flees around the world, living in all sorts of political systems, but all systems fail because of war.

This book is a magnificent political parable, exemplified by the tragic destiny of one man and his household.

A masterpiece.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Not Mahfouz's Best, October 27, 2008

By 

Ali - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Journey of Ibn Fattouma (Paperback)

This book is nowhere near as rich as the Cairo Trilogy. It doesn't have the same level of depth of thought and is too short to give you that panoramic of Middle Eastern mentality that he does in the Trilogy.

That said its a quick read. It has a few interesting thoughts on man's search for the perfect way of life. It often seems like a scant political commentary, but Mahfouz's book doesn't have to be limited to politics. It goes beyond, somewhat reminiscent of Siddhartha to pursuing something very individual.

However, I wonder if the translation is really giving me the full picture. Compared to other translated works I've read by Mahfouz, this one seems overly simplified. Like reading a children's book at times.