Mario and Abu L-Abbas

In 20th-century Alexandria, an Italian architect listens for the voice of a man who died 700 years ago. Mario and Abu l-Abbas is a sweeping novel of spiritual defiance, love, and impossible friendship—tracing the bond between a modern architect and a medieval Sufi mystic across centuries and cities.

A visionary novel of spiritual friendship across centuries.

In Mario and Abu L-Abbas, acclaimed Egyptian author Reem Bassiouney reimagines the extraordinary connection between a 20th-century Italian architect and a 13th-century Andalusian Sufi saint. As stories unfold from war-torn Alexandria to medieval Tunisia, the novel explores exile, memory, and the mysteries of divine love. Translated by Roger Allen, this sweeping tale bridges East and West, past and present—where a sacred mosque becomes the meeting point of history, architecture, and the human soul.

Contributor: Roger Allen (Translated by)

Translator: Roger Allen

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