In al-Aswanis Roman über ein Kairoer Wohnhaus leben die Armen beengt auf dem Dach, während in den unteren Etagen ein Grundbesitzer, ein Chefredakteur und kriminelle Neureiche neben enteigneten Adligen wohnen. Die Schicksale der Bewohner verweben sich und bilden einen Mikrokosmos für Ägypten.
'Al Aswany is a voice worth hearing from a country of which we know far too little.' - Sunday Times
In this deeply considered and at times provocative short work, Alaa Al Aswany tells us that, as with any disease, to understand the syndrome of dictatorship we must first consider the circumstances of its emergence, along with the symptoms and complications it causes in both the people and the dictator.
As the Egyptian revolution unfolded throughout 2011 and the ensuing years, no one was better positioned to comment on it—and try to push it in productive directions—than best-selling novelist and political commentator Alaa Al-Aswany. For years a leading critic of the Mubarak regime, Al-Aswany used his weekly newspaper column for Al-Masry Al-Youm to propound the revolution’s ideals and to confront the increasingly troubled politics of its aftermath. This book presents, for the first time in English, all of Al-Aswany’s columns from the period, a comprehensive account of the turmoil of the post-revolutionary years, and a portrait of a country and a people in flux. Each column is presented along with a context-setting introduction, as well as notes and a glossary, all designed to give non-Egyptian readers the background they need to understand the events and figures that Al-Aswany chronicles. The result is a definitive portrait of Egypt today—how it got here, and where it might be headed.
En cette fin des années 1940, sous les pales des ventilateurs de l'Automobile Club du Caire, l'Egypte des pachas et des monarques flirte avec aristocrates et diplomates de tout poil, pour peu qu'ils soient européens. Régulièrement, Sa Majesté le roi honore de son éminente présence la table de poker. Dans les communs, une armada de serveurs et d'employés venus de Haute-Egypte et de Nubie s'escriment à satisfaire les exigences de l'inflexible El-Kwo, chambellan du roi, qui régente leur misérable existence et se délecte à professer l'art de la soumission. Parmi ses subordonnés, Abdelaziz Hamam, descendant d'une puissante famille ruinée, venu au Caire dans l'espoir d'assurer l'éducation de sa progéniture. A suivre les chemins contrastés qu'empruntent ses enfants, on découvre les derniers soubresauts de l'Egypte pré-nassérienne et l'on sent frémir l'explosion révolutionnaire qui va embraser le pays. Engagé et humaniste, Alaa El Aswany renoue avec les récits populaires et hauts en couleur de l'irrésistible Immeuble Yacoubian et désigne inlassablement la seule voie juste pour son pays : une démocratie à construire.
From the bestselling author of The Yacoubian Building comes a novel bursting at the seams with Egyptian life'Among the best writers in the Middle East today . . . Al Aswany has his own magic' Guardian
Alaa Al Aswany is recognized as one of the leading contemporary writers from the Middle East, drawing comparisons to the esteemed Naguib Mahfouz. His work reflects a deep understanding of the region's culture and complexities, showcasing his literary prowess and ability to resonate with readers.
On 25 January 2011, Egyptian novelist Alaa Al Aswany joined protests in Tahrir Square against President Mubarak. This collection of his newspaper columns critiques the Mubarak regime, exploring the conditions for revolution, societal issues, and the struggle for democracy in Egypt. It serves as both a critique and an inspiring call for change.
Im Januar 2011 war der bedeutende ägyptische Autor Alaa al-Aswani unter den Tausenden von Menschen, die am Tahrir Platz in Kairo gegen das Mubarak Regime protestierten. Dies war der Moment, auf den al-Aswani mit seinen wöchentlichen Zeitungskolumnen jahrelang hingearbeitet hat: Unerschrocken hat er darin Korruption und Gewalttätigkeit des Regimes offengelegt, Missstände wie die fehlende Meinungsfreiheit oder die Unterdrückung der Frau angeprangert. Diese Auswahl kritischer Essays gewährt nebst der vernichtenden Kritik an Mubarak einen lebendigen – und bisweilen erschreckenden – Einblick in den Alltag der Ägypter während der brisanten Zeit vor dem Sturz des Regimes. Und als Lösung kommt immer nur eines in Frage: Demokratie!
The novel explores the intricate emotions of contemporary Egyptians grappling with their identities amidst the complexities of history, religion, class, and gender. Al Aswany showcases his remarkable empathy by delving into the lives of characters who are lost and searching, highlighting their everyday struggles and profound experiences. Through these poignant portrayals, the narrative captures the essence of human connection and the quest for understanding in a rapidly changing society.
