The Commandments follows the Dar Selim family in Upper Egypt through several generations, beginning in 1920s Egypt, from the time of the monarchy, the 1952 July revolution and Abdel Nasser, through to Sadat, the Naksa and the 1973 October War. The grandfather Abdel Rahman gives his grandson 10 commandments to help him endure life, enjoy its pleasures and stay away from temptations. Although he may not keep them, these commandments remain an important influence throughout his life. In each chapter the grandfather presents one of them, and part of the family story is told. They represent the grandfather’s wisdom, acquired through his life, which he wishes to pass on to future generations. Adel Esmat is an Egyptian writer, born in 1959. He obtained a BA in Philosophy in 1984. He has published six "The Naked Man", "Death Premonition", "A Solid Life", "Days of The Blue Windows", "The Sound of the Crow","Tales of Yusuf Tadros", one novella, "Reem's Mood-Swings", and a collection of short stories (Fragments). His novel Days of The Blue Windows has won the State Encouragement Award in 2011. He has also won the Naguib Mahfouz Medal for Literature in 2016 for his masterpiece novel "Tales of Yusuf Tadros", which has been recently translated into English by Mandy McClure and published by AUC Press/ Cairo.