Committee

Sonallah Ibrahim (1937–2025) was an Egyptian novelist and a major literary figure in the Arab world. He published short stories, historical and scientific children’s books, translations of American and German fiction, and seven novels, including Tilka al-ra'iha (The Smell of It), Beirut-Beirut, and Warda. Mary St. Germain is head of the Near East section at the University of Washington Libraries. She is the co-editor of the first volume of Essays in Arabic Literary Biography. Charlene Constable studied Arabic at the University of Washington and has traveled in Syria, Jordan, and Egypt.

"This is a wonderful existential novel." — Booklist"This powerful, thought-provoking novel offers a fascinating glimpse of the mechanics of repression worldwide." — Library Journal"Possesses both uncanny contemporary relevance and, in its surreal climax and dénouement, tremendous narrative and symbolic force." — Kirkus"This spare, swift and ultimately chilling fantasy of interrogation and persecution in contemporary Egypt suggests that all of us are controlled by forces we often have no inkling of. The novel begins with a frustrating and unexplained interview conducted by a group known simply as the Committee. . . . In keeping with Ibrahim's reputation as the 'Egyptian Kafka,' the Committee is anonymous, oppressive and symbolic of familiar social forces—though recent world events will prompt readers to associate it with more specific clandestine organizations. Ibrahim . . . creates a highly claustrophobic mood with elegant descriptions and the smooth incorporation of historical detail, bringing global depth to this work. As the dark narrative proceeds, its critique of broader social madness masquerading as civilization becomes clearer and clearer, making this a provocative addition to Ibrahim's respected oeuvre." — Publishers Weekly