Palace Walk (1956) by Naguib Mahfouz is set in Cairo during World War I and its aftermath, against the backdrop of Egypt’s struggle between British occupation and rising nationalism. The novel follows the Muslim al-Jawad family, headed by the authoritarian al-Sayyid Ahmad, who enforces strict control over his household while secretly indulging in forbidden pleasures like drinking and affairs. His wife, Amina, embodies the obedient wife, confined mostly to the home. Their children—Yasin, Fahmy, Kamal, Khadija, and Aisha—each navigate their own challenges within this restrictive environment. As political tensions escalate outside, especially through Fahmy’s passionate nationalism, family dynamics unravel, culminating in tragedy that underscores the collision between personal lives and historic forces.
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