Translation quality assessment (TQA) is a sub-field of translation studies. It presents a valid criterion for evaluating and criticizing translation. Theorists of translation have introduced several models of translation quality assessment as in this case of the present study. The key issue here is how to select and apply a model to assess literary genre and bridge this problematic issue which is going to be investigated in this study. The main aim of this study is to explore the applicability of Reiss's model(2000) on translation quality assessment in terms of assessing the quality of two translations of Naguib Mahfouz's "Midaq Alley" novel (1947) into English done by two translators: Le Gassick (1992) and Davis (2011) and identifying the most problematic linguistic component (the lexica, semantic, grammatical and stylistic elements). This study hypothesizes that Reiss's model(2000) of translation quality assessment is applicable and useful to assess the translation of Mahfouz's novel "Midaq Alley"; mismatches between ST and TTs reveal the key problems that distort literary genre. The analysis focuses on the linguistic components only. The findings of the analysis have revealed that the lexical items are the most problematic compared to the stylistic, semantic and grammatical items. The mismatches of linguistic components cause a violation of the intended literary genre of the original text and change the text typology from an expressive text to an expository one. The study concludes that Reiss's model(2000) is more theoretical than practical; some elaborations have been introduced in order to systemize some sub-categories of the model involved in this study. Finally, some recommendations have been put forward, and prospects for further research are offered.