Spatial and Literary Dimensions of Coffeehouses: From European to Mahfuz’s Coffeehouses

Although the temporal historical element is often considered a determining factor in the development of the plot and structure of a novel, the role of the spatial dimension should not be underestimated. Indeed, place and space in literature are essential elements, which can determine the psychology and choices of the characters. Often the spatial element can be a factor of grief; we read in contemporary Arabic literature about the descriptions of the prisons, the sense of estrangement from exile, and nostalgia for one’s land. In this article, I will present a short analysis on the spatial element of coffeehouses in their literary context. Coffeehouses are not only a meeting space for writers or a place of concentration and isolation, but above all a source of inspiration. In particular, coffeehouses will be analyzed in their literary dimension with particular reference to the work of Najīb Maḥfūẓ, the 1988 winner of the Nobel Prize for Literature.