{"product_id":"the-zafarani-files-gamal-al-ghitani-9789774166945","title":"The Zafarani Files: An Egyptian Novel","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eThe intrigues of an old Cairo quarter: gossip, spells, betrayals, and busybodies in a parable about political and personal freedoms\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"Absurdist and bleakly comic\"--Robert Irwin, \u003cem\u003eTimes Literary Supplement\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eAn unknown observer is watching the residents of a small, closely-knit neighborhood in Cairo's old city, making notes. The college graduate, the street vendors, the political prisoner, the café owner, the taxi driver, the beautiful green-eyed young wife with the troll of a husband--all are subjects of surveillance. The watcher's reports flow seamlessly into a narrative about Zafarani Alley, a village tucked into a corner of the city, where intrigue is the main entertainment, and everyone has a secret. Suspicion, superstition, and a wicked humor prevail in this darkly comedic novel. Drawing upon the experience of his own childhood growing up in al-Hussein, where the fictional Zafarani Alley is located, Gamal al-Ghitani has created a world richly populated with characters and situations that possess authenticity behind their veils of satire.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eAuthor:\u003c\/b\u003e Gamal Al-Ghitani\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eISBN-10:\u003c\/b\u003e 9774166949\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eISBN-13:\u003c\/b\u003e 9789774166945\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublisher:\u003c\/b\u003e American University in Cairo Press\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eLanguage:\u003c\/b\u003e English\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublished:\u003c\/b\u003e 02\/15\/2015\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePages:\u003c\/b\u003e 344\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eFormat:\u003c\/b\u003e Paperback\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eWeight:\u003c\/b\u003e 1.30lbs\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eSize:\u003c\/b\u003e 5.60h x 8.80w x 0.80d","brand":"Gamal Al-Ghitani","offers":[{"title":"Paperback","offer_id":48520141308159,"sku":"9789774166945","price":19.95,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0662\/2982\/9887\/files\/img_00f20a2c-7f89-49dd-a74b-5458ebfb158a.jpg?v=1778740995","url":"https:\/\/www.whiterainbookhouse.com\/products\/the-zafarani-files-gamal-al-ghitani-9789774166945","provider":"WR Book House","version":"1.0","type":"link"}