Los preparativos para el estreno de una obra de teatro despertarán amargos recuerdos en Tariq, un actor en decadencia, que representará sobre las tablas el último papel importante de su carrera. Así, asistiremos a la relación que mantuvo con la actriz Tahiya, la huida de ésta con Abbás -el director de la función- y la posterior muerte de la misma Tahiya. El éxito del espectáculo y la desaparición de Abbás abocarán a los protagonistas a una serie de reflexiones y sentimientos en los que el deseo y la realidad, los celos y el amor se sucederán unos a otros vertiginosamente.

En un ambiente viciado por el odio y la desesperanza, el joven Abbás inicia una brillante carrera como autor teatral, plasmando en su primera obra los secretos más íntimos y sórdidos de su familia, hecho que desencadena muy diversas reacciones. La misma historia se nos cuenta cuatro veces desde cuatro puntos de vista distintos, como si nos hallásemos en una sala de espejos. Realidad y ficción se entrecruzan para mostrar una única escapatoria ante el absurdo de la existencia y la muerte: la voluntad de trascender cualquier suceso de la propia vida en un intento de corregir los estragos del tiempo, que acaban convirtiendo el amor en odio, la belleza en fealdad, la lealtad en traición, y el idealismo en corrupción. Mediante unos personajes enfrentados a la fatalidad, Mahfuz compone un bellísimo canto a la esperanza, lo único capaz de desvelar los espejismos de la naturaleza humana. ( )

The construction of this novel is what makes it unique and fun to read. It’s almost like a looking through a window on each side of a square house. What you see differs depending in which direction you’re standing and whether you’re looking into or out of each window.

Here’s how this analogy applies to Mahfouz’s novel. Each chapter is written in the voice of a different person. The first is an actor, the second is the theater’s prompter, the third is that prompter’s wife, and last is that couple’s son. The story is told mostly in conversations from the point of view of each narrator, but what complicates the matter is that Abbas, the son, is a playright who also wrote the story of the story. This play had been performed at the theater to rousing audience approval. Confused? Don’t be because it’s all very clear in the story.

Because this novel is so cleverly done, you don’t know which characters to like and which to dislike. You see individuals in a different light as each subsequent narrator takes over. In addition, you will have no idea where the story is headed. I think Mahfouz is playing a bit with his readers here, but that’s okay. This is a quick read and one sure to entertain. Grab it now! ( )

A portuguese translation of the arabic original Afrah al-Qubba, this short novel has a very curious construction: the same story is told four times by four different narrators-protagonists. Each time the story is told from a different point of view, by a more idealist and symphatetic character. Each time extra details are added. So, our understanding of the story is slowly built and modified along the book. A very beautiful and intriguing book by the famous egiptian writer. ( )

Four perspectives of seemingly one reality. A powerful tale that drives forward relentlessly - and then back over the same ground as each character's perspective reveals itself. It is a prime example of Dr. George Engel's point of view - "Where you think you stand determines what you think you see." Beautifully constructed and executed. ( )