The Yacoubian Building (Alaa Al Aswany)

This exceptional Egyptian novel - as mesmerising as it is controversial - caused an unprecedented stir when it was first published in Arabic.

Welcome to the Yacoubian Building, Cairo: once grand, now dilapidated, and full of stories and passion. Some live in squalor on its rooftop while others inhabit the faded glory of its apartments and offices. Within these walls religious fervour jostles with promiscuity; bribery with bliss; modern life with ancient culture. At ground level, Taha, the doorman's son, harbours career aspirations and romantic dreams - but when these are dashed by unyielding corruption, hope turns to bitterness, with devastating consequences.

Alaa Al Aswany's superb novel about Egypt's many contradictions is at once an impassioned celebration and a ruthless dissection of a society dominated by dishonesty.

Alaa al Aswany was born in 1957. He is a dentist by profession, and for many years practised in the Yacoubian Building, which was to form the setting for his bestselling novel of the same name. He has written prolifically for Egyptian newspapers on politics, literature and social issues and his second novel, 'Chicago', was published by Fourth Estate in 2008.