BOOK REVIEW: Palace Walk by Naguib Mahfouz (1956)

***** Stars

Palace Walk is easily one of the best, most uniquely written, books I have read this year and - no doubt - in my life. While I did not feel I was left with an in-depth understanding of Egyptian culture after reading this I was left with a picture of the tensions existing across familial and local relationships. At the heart of this book is an indictment against patriarchy and the way it was practiced in Cairo during the 1950s. This charge is then placed against the slippery issue of character and an individuals struggle to stand up for what they believe in.

Even though this is a relatively long read the narrative is essentially a micro plot that establishes itself around episodes involving each member of the family. What unifies each episode is the protagonist of the story called Al-Sayyid Ahmad Abd al-Jawad. As the father his influence on each member of the family is total. Most of the time it is his influence as an oppressive, autocratic disciplinarian. This "ruling" of his family colours their thoughts and decisions constantly but not invariably. One of the major plot points is Yasin’s veneration of his father’s secret, hedonistic, lifestyle. Yasin is presented as a callow individual who never grows up. A corollary of this is that he is one of the only people in the family that truly respects their father. Yasin spends his life attempting to live up to his father’s pleasure seeking ways, though not his discipline.

In the story Al-Sayyid Ahmad Abd al-Jawad’s is drawn as nothing less than a hypocritical monster. Nonetheless, Mahfouz also takes the time to show the splendour in life’s pleasures. He takes the time to show how laughter, play and ribaldry bring people together. These are things that are hard fought for by Al- Sayyid Ahmad Abd al-Jawad, and not only that, he is very good - even talented - at being a socialite. His performance in public is enjoyed by many. It is in this way that the writer does his best work. While honouring aspects of Muslim life and the Koran he also challenges its shortcomings and the way that day-to-day life falls outside of fundamentalism. On one level the way this man acts is appalling, on another he is disciplined and asserts himself on the chaotic world around him,  and finally on a third he brings joy to people’s life through his hedonic nature.

Aside from the characters the writing style is also noteworthy. Perhaps the most basic piece of advice writers are asked to observe is the “show don’t tell” rule. In this book it is as though Mahfouz has waged war on that concept. Throughout the book he spends most of his time telling us exactly what a characters are thinking. He will then let them speak in conversation for a bit before explaining another person’s thoughts and feelings. I would be shocked if this style was to most peoples liking. Nonetheless, it demonstrates that the “show don’t tell” is not the only way to story tell. It also demonstrates how intimate Mahfouz’s is with each of his characters. He never ignores their pain, nor their vanity or joy. All of these things coalesce together to inform each characters decision and in the end our view of a Muslim worldview.

I am aware that many people feel that Mahfouz is too sympathetic to the protagonist, that the story is too long and the plot is too thin. Personally, I disagree. While this book is not going to be for everyone I will fight my urge to be apologetic. I think this a very human piece of writing that challenges an ancient culture as well as our own “fundametalisms” about people, culture and communities. Specifically, I think it challenges the idea of those things being wholly evil or good. The fact that this perspective has come from the Islamic world, from a man, pre-civil rights movement makes it remarkable in my estimation.