description: This controversial bestselling novel in the Arab world reveals the political corruption, sexual repression, religious extremism, and modern hopes of Egypt today. All manner of flawed and fragile humanity reside in the Yacoubian Building, a once-elegant temple of Art Deco splendor now slowly decaying in the smog and bustle of downtown a fading aristocrat and self-proclaimed "scientist of women"; a sultry, voluptuous siren; a devout young student, feeling the irresistible pull toward fundamentalism; a newspaper editor helplessly in love with a policeman; a corrupt and corpulent politician, twisting the Koran to justify his desires. These disparate lives careen toward an explosive conclusion in Alaa Al Aswany's remarkable international bestseller. Teeming with frank sexuality and heartfelt compassion, this book is an important window on to the experience of loss and love in the Arab world.
language: English
title: The Yacoubian Building
titlecomplete: The Yacoubian Building
genres: Literary Fiction, Fiction, Book Club, Contemporary, Egypt, Egyptian Literature, Historical Fiction, Africa, Literature, Novels
ratings_count: 20932
places: Egypt, Cairo
awards: awardedAt: 1199174400000
name: Independent Foreign Fiction Prize
category: Longlist, awardedAt: 1325404800000
name: Premio Euskadi de Literatura
category: Traduccion, awardedAt: 1167638400000
name: Premio Grinzane Cavour
category: Narrativa Straniera
publisher: Fourth Estate