If virtue is merely a social construct, how far will a self-proclaimed nihilist go to fulfill his unbridled ambitions?

In Cairo Modern (القاهرة الجديدة), Naguib Mahfouz trains his lens on Egypt in the 1930s, focusing on Mahgub Abd al-Da’im, a student at King Fuad University. Fancying himself a modern nihilist and hedonist, Mahgub views morality as an obstacle to success. Yet, his cynical philosophy is tested when a family crisis in his provincial hometown reveals his vulnerability. Torn between a street girl gathering cigarette butts and his wealthy cousin Tahiya, Mahgub decides to play the game of high society—only to discover that the elite are far more corrupt than he ever imagined. With a wink to Faust, this cautionary tale portrays a man who becomes a willing collaborator in his own moral decay, offering a stinging indictment of self-defeating egoism.