The Thief and the Dogs
| Author | Naguib Mahfouz |
|---|---|
| Original title | اللص والكلاب |
| Language | Egyptian Arabic |
| Subject | Existentialism Surrealism |
| Genre | Novel |
| Publisher | Misr Library |
Publication date | 1961 |
| Publication place | Egypt |
| Media type | Print (Paperback) |
| Pages | 143 |
| Preceded by | Children of Gebelawi (1959) |
| Followed by | Autumn Quail (1962) |
The Thief and the Dogs (Arabic: اللص والكلاب; al-liṣ wal-kilāb) is one of the Egyptian author Naguib Mahfouz's most celebrated works. He further developed his theme of existentialism using stream-of-consciousness and surrealist techniques. It charts the life of Said Mahran, a thief recently released from jail and intent on having his vengeance on the people who put him there. The novel was published in 1961, and Said's despair reflects disappointment in revolution and new order in Egypt—as Said is not only a thief, but a kind of disillusioned revolutionary.