The Yacoubian Building

Alaa Al Aswany · b. 1957 · Egypt

Originally Imarat Ya'qubian (Arabic) · translated by Humphrey Davies

Why it matters

A closeted editor, a corrupt businessman, and a radicalized doorman's son all live inside one crumbling downtown Cairo building. The bestselling Arabic novel of its decade, mapping Egyptian society's fractures under Mubarak.

At a glance

Multiple interwoven plotlines but told in brisk, accessible, journalistic prose.