The Thief and the Dogs

About “The Thief and the Dogs”

The Thief and the Dogs is a 1961 novel by Egyptian author Naguib Mahfouz. It follows Said Mahran, a thief who has just been released from prison and is determined to take revenge on those who sent him there. The story explores themes of existentialism through stream-of-consciousness and surrealist techniques. Said’s despair reflects a broader disappointment in the revolution and the new order in Egypt. He is both a thief and a disillusioned revolutionary, struggling with his place in a society that has failed him. The novel is one of Mahfouz’s most celebrated works. (Summary adapted from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0.)