In this classic comic novel, Sterne's lascivious protagonist, Mr. Yorick, a down-at-heel English gentleman aimlessly touring France, encompasses shop-girls as well as duchesses in his thorough exploration of French society and, in particular, of French women. Sterne's novel, first published in 1768, satirizes the pious sentimentalism and dry travelogues of his time, abandoning monuments and historical sites in favor of an erratic itinerary as Yorick gets personally involved with everyone he happens to meet, following his keen curiosity about all things human and any opportunity he perceives for a romantic encounter. His Flirtations lead to misunderstandings, backtracking, and hilarious entanglements. That this novel has not lost its appeal can be attributed in great part to the narrative swings between biting satire and lyrical outpourings of sentiment, with comic eroticism acting as its unifying principle.

Naguib Mahfouz is one of the greatest Arabic writers of the second half of the 20th century. He spent his whole life (1911-2006) in Cairo and published 35 novels and many short stories. This book traces Mahfouzs ' novels and introduces the reader to the characters living in his books. At the end of the book, the reader is able to read a few short stories and chapters from some of the novels in a Hebrew translation.