Palace of desire : cairo trilogy 2/naguib mahfouz

The sensual and provocative second volume in the Cairo Trilogy, Palace Of Desire follows the Al Jawad family into the awakening world of the 1920s and the sometimes violent clash between Islamic ideals, personal dreams and modern realities.

Having given up his vices after his sons death, ageing patriarch Al-Sayyid Ahmad pursues an arousing lute-player - only to find she has married his eldest son.

His rebellious children struggle to move beyond his domination as they test the loosening reins of societal and parental control.

And Ahmads youngest son, in an unforgettable portrayal of unrequited love, ardently courts the sophisticated daughter of a rich Europeanised family.