In the following essay, Milson traces Mahfouz's development as a writer and discusses his major thematic concerns.

In the following essay, Weaver considers the impact of religious and political events on Mahfouz's life and career—particularly the attempt on Mahfouz's life in 1994.

In the following essay, Asfour surveys the critical reaction to Mahfouz's work.

In the following essay, Moosa evaluates Mahfouz's importance as a writer of historical novels and examines the dominant themes of his historical fiction.

In the following essay, which was originally published in 1971, ‘Atiyya traces Mahfouz's development as a short story writer.

In the following essay, El-Enany asserts that Mahfouz's short stories are “immensely valuable in highlighting particular aspects of his vision and reassuring the critic on the soundness of his interpretation of the novels” and urges an assessment of his short fiction independent of his novels.

In the following essay, Elad contends that Mahfouz utilizes mythic themes, Egyptian cultural elements, motifs from the work of Franz Kafka and Albert Camus, and Islamic ideology to illustrate the “dilemma modernity poses for Egyptian society” in “Zabalawi.”

In the following essay, Mikhail delineates the relationship between existentialism and Arab thought in Mahfouz's short fiction.

In the following essay, Said considers the problems of English translations of Mahfouz's work, arguing that they miss the distinctive and direct nature of his narrative voice.

In the following essay, Sakkout offers a thematic and stylistic analysis of Mahfouz's short fiction.

In the following interview, Mahfouz discusses the role of politics and religion in his life and work, his attitude toward censorship, and his reaction to winning the Nobel Prize.

In the following essay, Somekh explicates Mahfouz's vision of Egypt and the human condition as evinced in his short fiction.

In the following excerpt, Mikhail considers the role of love in the short fiction of Mahfouz and Yusuf Idris.

In the following essay, Matar discusses the controversy surrounding the homosexuality and homosexual issues that Mahfouz portrays in several of his novels.

In the following essay, which was originally published in 1974, Mikhail examines the portrayal of religion in Yusuf Idris's “Tabliyya min al-Samā’” and Mahfouz's Hikāya bilā bidāya wa lā nihāya.

In the following essay, Somekh maintains that “Zabalawi” foreshadows themes and narrative techniques that recur in Mahfouz's later writing.

In the following essay, Milson explores the contradictions in Mahfouz's career and work and traces his development as a writer of novels and short fiction.

In the following essay, Shammas discusses Mahfouz as an Arabic novelist and considers his influence on Arabic literature.

In the following essay, Ghosh provides an overview of Mahfouz's life and career as well as evaluating his contribution to modern Arabic literature.

In the following review, Enright considers the strengths and weaknesses of several recent translations of Mahfouz's novels.

In the following excerpt, Gordon explores the struggle of Mahfouz's Egyptian characters to live an authentic and spiritual life.

In the following essay, Moosa outlines the development of Mahfouz's literary style and thematic concerns.

In the following essay, Allen explores the dominant themes of “Lovers' Quarter” and provides historical context for the story.

In the following positive review, Dickey praises the political background and insights in Sugar Street.

In the following essay, Cole explores the cultural influences on Mahfouz's writing and his growing popularity as an author.

In the following positive review, Irwin examines the dominant themes of Sugar Street.

In the following positive review, Mesic praises Children of the Alley as a skillful and fresh combination of allegory, historical fiction, and myth.

In the following review of Arabian Nights and Days, Mesic offers a positive assessment of Mahfouz's adaptation of The Arabian Nights.

In the following review of Echoes of an Autobiography, El-Enany compliments the poetic nature of Mahfouz's autobiography and finds it reminiscent of Friedrich Nietzsche's Thus Spoke Zarathustra and Kahlil Gibran's The Prophet.

In the following review, Castronova offers a positive assessment of Palace of Desire.

In the following review, Lively offers a positive assessment of Sugar Street, comparing Mahfouz to John Galsworthy.

In the following review, Hussein explores how Palace of Desire serves as a bridge between Mahfouz's earlier works and his later, more cynical prose.

In the following positive review of The Beginning and the End, The Thief and the Dogs, and Wedding Song, Taylor describes several reasons why American audiences cannot fully appreciate Mahfouz's work.

In the following mixed review, Allen discusses both the stories and the translation of Fountain and Tomb.

In the following review, de Botton offers a generally favorable assessment of Echoes of an Autobiography.