A contemporary Egyptian bookseller named Hisham becomes obsessed with a recurring dream that he discovers is identical to one experienced by a man named Yazid in eighth-century Basra. The novel blurs the lines between time, reality, and identity as Hisham’s life becomes increasingly intertwined with his historical doppelgänger, exploring themes of fate, memory, and reincarnation. This work embodies a “meta-literary” trend where the act of reading and the power of ancient texts become central to the plot. Hisham’s journey is driven by his engagement with manuscripts and dream-interpretation books, suggesting that our identities are shaped not only by our experiences but also by the narratives we consume and inhabit.