God Dies by the Nile

This is a beautifully written, and sensitively translated, portrait of the utter oppression and near-hopelessness of Egyptian peasant life in the mid-1970's when the book was first written. El Saadawi is a powerful voice for the Egyptian underclass, having grown up in a village along the Nile and risen to become a doctor. Her books have periodically been banned but she continues to write. Hers is a voice we should be aware of. A short book, with a compelling story, it is an 'easy' read. I took it along as holiday reading during my first visit to Egypt, and it definitely helped me to make some sense of what I was seeing as I cruised down the river.

"God Dies by the Nile," a novel by Nawal El Saadawi, focuses on the Egyptian town of Kafr El Teen. As the story opens we meet Zakeya, an agricultural laborer who is working the soil by the Nile River. We soon meet her family of poor peasants, as well as the privileged ruling class of the village; the lives of these groups are intertwined in disturbing ways.A note about the author tells that she was born in a village on the banks of the Nile and eventually became a doctor, and that her books have been banned. This book reminded me a lot of "Uncle Tom's Cabin," the classic American novel of social protest. In "God Dies" Saadawi deals with socioeconomic oppression, the sexual exploitation of women, and the intermingling of religion and politics."God Dies" is full of fascinating characters. There is Metwalli, seen by some as a holy man and by others as an idiot; also memorable is Fatheya, the strong-willed wife of the leader of the village mosque. The interpersonal conflicts and relationships of the characters are very compelling, and are punctuated by some biting dialogue. Saadawi's vivid language has a powerful appeal to the senses; I could really imagine myself being immersed in the sights, sounds, and smells of this world.At times the multiple storylines made the novel feel a bit disjointed, but ultimately Saadawi's craftsmanship gives the book a powerful unity and balance. This is a vivid and well-written portrait of human cruelty and corruption. As a companion text I recommend "The Villagers," by Jorge Icaza.