We used the Western style to express our own themes and stories. But don't forget that our heritage includes The Thousand and One Nights.

My wife thought I deserved it, but I always thought the Nobel a Western prize.

There are no heroes in most of my stories. I look at our society with a critical eye and find nothing extraordinary in the people I see.

The writer interweaves a story with his own doubts, questions, and values. That is art.

Hosni Mubarak... his constitution is not democratic, but he is democratic. We can voice our opinions now. The press is free.

As the tension eases, we must look in the direction of agriculture, industry and education as our final goals, and toward democracy under Mr Mubarak.