The yacoubian building by alaa al aswany 9789774248627. Among the players are a sixtiesstyle antiestablishment professor whose relationship with a younger africanamerican woman becomes a moving target for intolerance. Buy the yacoubian building reprint by aswany, alaa al, davies, humphrey isbn. Alaa alaswany, bestselling egyptian novelist known especially for his social commentary and vocal criticism of the egyptian government. Nov 10, 2018 since the yacoubian building was released in 2002 alaa alaswany has become egypts most emblematic writer. Based in egypt, and writing in arabic al aswany uses chicago to tell the story of how several different characters adjust to their new life in chicago having left cairo to pursue their medical career. While alaswany refused for the book to be translated into hebrew and published in israel, a volunteer had translated it and ipcri wanted. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. The yacoubian building is fastmoving and actionpacked, with drama in every scene and shifts between the different strands used to provide tension. Al aswany was chosen to be among 21 international writers to publish a monthly column in the new york times for one year. He pens a weekly column for deutsche welles arabic news site and is fluent in arabic, english, french, and spanish. Jay parini, the guardian uk from one of egypts most acclaimed novelists, here is a vivid chronicle of egyptian society, with penetrating analysis of all the most urgent issueseconomic stagnation, police. I was always optimistic, i was accused of being too optimistic by some friends.
Alaa al aswany, born in 1957 and a dentist by profession, has written from an early age. Where alaa al aswany is writing from, new york times magazine, 27 april 2008. Alaa al aswany is passionate about nurturing literary talent. Alaa alaswanys latest work explores class divisions, corruption and injustice as the masters take the servants for a ride in 1940s cairo published. Alaa al aswany is a talented and respected writer, who portrays all his characters with so much empathy and insight that you find yourself caring about even the more despicable ones. Having read the yacoubian building, i was interest in this new book and i think that it is good to read chicago. Read the yacoubian building a novel by alaa al aswany available from rakuten kobo. In the course of this unforgettable novel, these disparate lives converge, careening inexorably toward an explosive conclusion. I believed that at some point there would be a revolution in egypt. Bestselling author alaa al aswany is alleged to have insulted the. Egyptian novelist alaa alaswany poses on february 12, 2014 in paris. Alaa al aswany is incredibly giving of his time and expertise in these small, customized workshops. I very liked how the crash and mix of the american. Al aswany, born in 1957, originally trained as a dentist, and still has his own.
These disparate lives careen toward an explosive conclusion in alaa al aswanys remarkable international bestseller. Alaa al aswany is the internationally bestselling author of the yacoubian building and chicago. A journalist who writes a controversial opposition column, al aswany makes his living as a dentist in cairo. Its been an absolute pleasure sharing my work in a community that can understand so many facets of what i do, and becoming this familiar and comfortable with. Betool khedairi is a talented new voice in fiction. Alaa alaswany during his monthly seminar in the leadership and management development center on 25 april 20. From the pious son of the buildings doorkeeper and the raucous, impoverished squatters on its roof, via the tattered aristocrat and the gay. A practising dentist in cairo, he had toiled at fiction for. A journalist who writes a controversial opposition column, al. I tried to understand the egyptian people as a novelist. Egypts alaa al aswany on the cost of writing against sisi time.
His first major novel was the yacoubian building, published in arabic in 2002 and in english translation in 2006. The novelist alaa al aswany places his emigre characters in post911 chicago. Alaa al aswanys newest novel, chicago, is a tale of several egyptian migrants looking to forge a life for themselves in the windy city through academic success against a background of a dictatorial and repressive state in their home country. Give yourself the gift of knowledge subscribe to big think edge. Alaa al aswany, bestselling egyptian novelist known especially for his social commentary and vocal criticism of the egyptian government. Digital rights management drm the publisher has supplied this book in encrypted form, which means that you need to install free software in order to unlock and read it. About nyc alaa al aswanys creative writing workshop. Apr 23, 2012 give yourself the gift of knowledge subscribe to big think edge. Alaa al aswany arabic athina kappou cairo change egypt society stories turkish university of athens. Among the players are a sixtiesstyle antiestablishment. Alaa alaswany s latest work explores class divisions, corruption and injustice as the masters take the servants for a ride in 1940s cairo published. Prominent egyptian intellectual and writer alaa al aswany has authored numerous renowned novels.
About on the state of egypt alaa al aswany is among the best writers in the middle east today, a suitable heir to the mantle worn by naguib mahfouz, his great predecessor. First of all it was amazing reading about the historical context of post 911 americ. Alaa al aswany at the 2007 edinburgh international book festival. Teeming with frank sexuality and heartfelt compassion, this book is an important window on to the experience of loss and love in the arab world. Creative writing nyc alaa al aswanys creative writing.
Egyptian dissident writer alaa alaswany sued by military prosecutors. Aswanys next novel, chicago 2007, seems to mirror his own experiences as a student in the midwestern city, although his story is set after the september 11. In the novels and short stories of alaa al aswany, characters struggle with class differences, police brutality, poverty, sexual harassment, and political corruption. The environment is completely welcoming while still providing constructive criticism.
Alaa al aswany, a dentist and opposition journalist in cairo, broke onto the literary scene in 2002 with the yacoubian building, a novel whose frank depiction of sexuality in contemporary. Download for offline reading, highlight, bookmark or take notes while you read the yacoubian building. The author alaa al aswany egypts bestselling author alaa al aswany talks to the global dispatches about his time in tahrir square during the revolution that toppled hosni mubarak, his new book on the state of egypt, dostoyevsky, the muslim brotherhood and some neglected classics of egyptian literature. Shikagu is a novel by egyptian author alaa al aswany. Alaa alaswany is an egyptian writer, and a founding member of the political movement kefaya. A practising dentist in cairo, he had toiled at fiction for a decade but had been rejected on three.
His new book called the dictatorship syndromelikely another bestselleris a thorough scrutiny of the anatomy, psychology, and sociology of dictatorships, and a powerful analytical tool to understand entrenched authoritarian governments not only in the middle east, but across the world. Alaa al aswany explains how a university of illinois histology department becomes a microcosm for the world. One of egypts most recognizable literary celebrities, he was a highprofile fixture of the 2011 tahrir. Jan 04, 2009 alaa al aswany, a dentist and opposition journalist in cairo, broke onto the literary scene in 2002 with the yacoubian building, a novel whose frank depiction of sexuality in contemporary. This 41page guide for the yacoubian building by alaa al aswany includes detailed chapter summaries and analysis covering 2 chapters, as well as several more indepth sections of expertwritten literary analysis. His published works include novels, short stories, and a novella, as well as prolific contributions on literature, politics, and social issues to newspapers and magazines covering the political spectrum. Friendly fire is a novella and collection of short stories from alaa al aswany, author of the bestselling the yacoubian building. Facebook post by alaa al aswany from nov 26, 2012 0 copy quote a fascinating book and a great pleasure to read. Alaa al aswany has 34 books on goodreads with 76584 ratings. The new book from alaa al aswany, author of the international bestseller the yacoubian building and chicago. The publisher of this book allows a portion of the content to be copied and pasted into external tools and documents. Alaa al aswany became a contributing opinion writer for the international new york times in the fall of 20. The bestselling author of he yacaoubian building and hicago turns his attention to current affairs in egypt.
An easy, enjoyable and educational for those of us in the west read. He continues his dedication to teaching with creative writing workshops in brooklyn, new york. The yacoubian building is his second published novel. Alaa al aswany is a wellknown egyptian writer whose previous book the yacoubian building was a bestseller. His father, abbas al aswany, was a lawyer and a writer, and his mother, zeinab, was a social worker. Sep 03, 2007 buy the yacoubian building reprint by aswany, alaa al, davies, humphrey isbn. I said that in many interviews, including with the new york times in 2008. Alaa al aswanys book turned into a movie in 2006 the movie is available on youtube. Sometimes compared to naguib mahfouz the author has recently released a new novel. Since the yacoubian building was released in 2002 alaa alaswany has become egypts most emblematic writer. These disparate lives careen toward an explosive conclusion in alaa al aswany s remarkable international bestseller.
Egyptian dissident writer alaa alaswany sued by military. Al aswany is passionate about teaching and nurturing young literary talent. A dentist whose first office was in the yacoubian building, al aswany has written prolifically for egyptian newspapers across the political spectrum on literature, politics, and social issues. Download for offline reading, highlight, bookmark or take notes while you read the automobile club of egypt. Wed love you to buy this book, and hope you find this page convenient in locating a. To get integrated to your new country, a new culture, and to be part of this new.
August book sense pick a fading aristocrat and selfproclaimed scientist of women. Alaa al aswany, the author of the automobile club of egypt, is no stranger to activism. The yacoubian building by aswany, alaa al september 3, 2007 paperback. His opeds have appeared in such international publications as the new york times, le monde, the financial times, and the guardian.
Alaa al aswany is the author of the yacoubian building, which was longlisted for the international impac dublin literary award in 2006 and was the bestselling novel in the arab world for more than five years. Aug 20, 2015 alaa al aswanys new book sets the dynamics of a fallen family and an elitist car club against the tensions of postworld war ii egypt, but a clunky translation and too many plots keep the brakes on. All live in the yacoubian building, a onceelegant temple of art deco splendor slowly decaying in the smog and hubbub of downtown cairo, egypt. Nov 30, 2019 prominent egyptian intellectual and writer alaa al aswany has authored numerous renowned novels. Alaa al aswanys new book sets the dynamics of a fallen family and an elitist car club against the tensions of postworld war ii egypt, but a clunky translation and too.