Egyptian Nobel Laureate Author Naguib Mahfouz dies

[Not Afraid]

Sad news of the passing of a wonderful author.

CAIRO, Egypt - Naguib Mahfouz, who became the first Arab writer to win the Nobel Prize in Literature for his novels depicting modern Egyptian life in his beloved, millennium-old corner of Islamic Cairo, died Wednesday, his doctor said. He was 94.

Mahfouz, who was accused of blasphemy by an Islamic militant and survived a stabbing attack 12 years ago, was admitted to the hospital last month after falling in his home and injuring his head. He died Wednesday morning after his health declined sharply, said Dr. Hossam Mowafi, head of a medical team supervising his treatment at the Police Hospital.

"His wife last night was whispering on his ears and he was smiling and nodding," Mowafi said.

I simply LOVE his Cairo Trilogy. He was one of the first Middle Eastern authors I read and he started a trend for me.

Here's a short review of his best known works.