# The Open Door

Winner of the Naguib Mahfouz Medal for Literature  
  
"Absorbing . . . Superbly translated . . . . Arguably the best modern \[Egyptian\] novel not written by Nobel laureate Mahfouz."--Kirkus Reviews  
  
A landmark in women's writing set during the struggle for Egyptian independence

February 1946: Cairo is engulfed by demonstrations against the British. Layla's older brother Mahmud returns, wounded in the clashes, and the events of that fateful day mark a turning point in her life, an awakening to the world around her.

Latifa al-Zayyat's acclaimed modern classic follows Layla through her sexual and political coming of age. Her rebellious spirit seeks to free itself from the stifling social codes that dictate a young woman's life, just as Egypt struggles to shake off the yoke of imperialist rule.

## Details

- **Price:** 17.95 GBP
- **Vendor:** Hoopoe
- **Type:** Laṭīfah Zayyāt

## Variants

| Variant | Price | Available |
|---------|-------|-----------|
| Default Title | 17.95 GBP | In stock |

## Images

- The Open Door

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> Source: [Somiibooks](https://somiibooks.com/products/the-open-door)
> Updated: 2026-09-07