Before the Throne: A Modern Arabic Novel (Modern Arabic Novels)
"In brevity and in profundity, the Egyptian Nobel Laureate has written a remarkable book in which a long line of Egyptian leaders stand before the throne at the day of judgment. From the Pharaohs to Sadat, each is presented before trial at the gates of the afterlife, and their accomplishments weighed. This book is a mixture of Machiavellian discourse on leadership, of theology and what it takes to gain entry (as well as the complicating factor of multiple religious systems over the course of Egyptian history), and of insight into Mahfouz's perspectives on these topics. It is a slim volume, and each trial" is handled deftly." -  The Global Ministries