Naguib Mahfouz's 'The Thief and the Dogs' is a compelling existentialist novel, first published in 1961. It tells the story of Said Mahran, a former thief and intellectual, who is released from prison only to find himself betrayed by his wife, his closest friend, and the revolutionary ideals he once held. Driven by a burning desire for revenge, Mahran embarks on a desperate and ultimately futile quest for justice in the chaotic streets of Cairo. The novel explores themes of disillusionment, social injustice, and the human search for meaning in a world turned upside down, making it a powerful commentary on post-revolutionary Egyptian society.