SCRIPTORIUM
WORLD
QUICK SUMMARIES
The Library of Babel
Jorge Luis Borges
The universe is described as an infinite library of hexagonal rooms, filled with books containing every possible combinations of 25 symbols (books with 410 pages, 40 lines, and 80 characters per line). Most books are nonsense but the Library contains all books with truth.
Cairo Trilogy
Naguib Mahfouz
The life of the Cairo merchant Ahmad ‘Abd al-Jawad and his family across three generations is explored, from the 1919 Egyptian Revolution to the end of World War II. Across the three novels, Palace Walk, Palace of Desire, and Sugar Street, the story traces the gradual transformation of family life, social norms, and political consciousness in Cairo as children grow up, marry, age, and confront modern ideas.
The Trials of Brother Jero
Wole Soyinka
A self-proclaimed prophet named Brother Jero in Lagos cynically exploits religion to manipulate followers for money, power, and personal advantage. When his schemes unravel, especially involving his devoted follower Chume and Chume’s wife Amope, Jero narrowly escapes exposure and violence through quick thinking and deceit.