Naguib Mahfouz was an Egyptian writer who won the 1988 Nobel Prize in Literature. He is regarded as one of the first contemporary writers in Arabic literature to explore themes of existentialism. Mahfouz published 35 novels, over 350 short stories, 26 screenplays, hundreds of op-ed columns for Egyptian newspapers, and seven plays over a 70-year career, from the 1930s until 2004. All of his novels take place in Egypt, and always mention the lane which equals the world. His most famous works include The Cairo Trilogy and Children of Gebelawi. Many of Mahfouz's works have been made into Egyptian and foreign films. He remains the only Egyptian to win the Nobel Prize in Literature.