As WWII rages along the Egyptian coast, can the ancient sanctity of Khan al-Khalili offer refuge from the bombs of modernity?

Set in 1942, as the Africa Campaign battles toward El Alamein, Khan al-Khalili (خان الخليلي) marks a pivotal shift in Naguib Mahfouz’s career from historical antiquity to contemporary realism. The story follows the Akif family, who seek sanctuary in the historic heart of Cairo, believing its religious significance will protect them from German airstrikes. Through the eyes of Ahmad, a self-sacrificing civil servant, Mahfouz paints a richly textured portrait of life in the bustling alleyways and cafes. Amidst the sensory details of the author's own childhood home, a profound debate unfolds: as the world changes, must progress inevitably be accompanied by the destruction of the past?