Egyptian Paperbacks

I love Egyptian paperbacks. Even classics by Naguib Mahfouz and Taha Hussein get this romantic, film-poster treatment. Most have a woman in the foreground and a handsome chap or two (often in cool colors, and often wielding a weapon) in the background. Some are quite risque. The interiors often contain excellent black-and-white line drawings or prints.



















Abnaa Abi Bakr al-Saddiq




















from Karnak Cafe by Naguib Mahfouz














Al-Ustaaz (The Teacher)



















Al-Zela al-Ula (The First Lapse)