On may 5th we discussed chicago by the egyptian author alaa alaswani, which explores the lives of arab immigrants living in the united states, their struggle for cultural identity and varying perceptions of integration into life in the us. Discover book depositorys huge selection of alaa aswany books online. Wed love you to buy this book, and hope you find this page convenient in locating a place of purchase. If youre interested in licensing this or any other big think c. The son of a novelistlawyer, he was trained as a dentist at cairo univ. Shikagu is a novel by egyptian author alaaalaswany published in arabic in 2007 and in an english translation in 2007 the locale of the novel is university of illinois at chicago where the writer did his postgraduate studies. His novels are extremely successful in the arab world and beyond. Give yourself the gift of knowledge subscribe to big think edge. We use cookies to give you the best possible experience.
Al aswany, born in 1957, originally trained as a dentist, and still has his own. Alaa al aswany is among the best writers in the middle east today. Chicago, named by newsday as the best translated novel of 2006. Alaa alaswani, a novelist who probes the nogo areas of arab. In chicago alaa al aswany presents the crisscrossing stories of a number of egyptians abroad, clustered around the department of histology at the the university of illinois medical school. The characters are beautifully realized and each of the story lines is individually compelling. The censorship committee had rejected the text, too far from the traditional values of egyptian society. Since the publication of his successful debut the yacoubian building 2004, alaa al aswany has become one of egypts most celebrated writers, a vocal opponent to the corruption and nepotism that have characterized president mubareks regime. Alaa alaswany, bestselling egyptian novelist known especially for his social.
Share on facebook tweet about this on twitter share on tumblr email this to someone. In 1990 alaa al aswany was refused to publish his first book. A journalist who writes a controversial opposition column, al. Alaa al aswany became a contributing opinion writer for the international new york times in the fall of 20. It also makes it pretty surprising that his intriguing new novel, followup. Matching the plaudits for his previous novel, the yacoubian building harper perennial. Paul naylor studied arabic at soas, university of london. The dictatorship syndrome, al aswany the chicago distribution center has reopened and is fulfilling orders. Literary resume nyc alaa al aswanys creative writing workshop.
One of egypts most recognizable literary celebrities, he was a highprofile fixture of the 2011 tahrir. Chicago by alaa al aswanyjay parini admires the dickensian sense of character in a strong tale of egyptians in america. Praise the lord who created beauty in a hundred ways. Egyptian author al aswany weaves a vivid tapestry of clashing cultures in post 911 chicago. Since the release of his first novel, the yacoubian building, in 2002, alaa al aswany has catapulted from being a dentist with a literary bent to the arabspeaking worlds bestselling fiction. When the yacoubian building snared the affection of readers around the world, it gave alaa al aswany a clout in egypt denied to other kinds of dissident. In this video from louisiana channel, egyptian author alaa al aswany speaks about how the characters in his novel the yacoubian building american university in cairo press, 2004, translated from the arabic by humphrey davies, began to take on a life of their own as he wrote them. From alaa al aswany, the author of the highlyacclaimed. Much like the yacobian building emaret yacoubian, the iconic book for which alaswani first gained. 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. Alaa al aswany interviewed by jonathan heawood, english pen at the london book fair, 2008, podcast watch a video interview with alaa al aswany talking about chicago on the interview online interview with alaa al aswany at the world book club. In the course of this unforgettable novel, these disparate lives converge, careening inexorably toward an explosive conclusion. Oct 07, 2008 alaa al aswany is the internationally bestselling author of the yacoubian building and chicago. As it happens, chicago is a story of egyptians in chicago, and much of it.
Its a long way from cairos tahrir square, the nexus of egypts 20 democratic uprising, to new york states hudson valley, but alaa alaswany has made many such jumps of distance, time, and culture in the past three decades, just as he manages to follow, simultaneously, two very different vocations. This essay on one of my favourite contemporary writers appears today in the scotsman. The locale of the novel is university of illinois at chicago where the writer did his postgraduate studies. Danana is the most compelling character in the book a thug and a bully in the tradition of chicago mobsters like. He has since worked as a researcher and translator for media clients such as al arabiya and pbs. From alaa al aswany, the author of the highlyacclaimed the yacoubian bu.
Alaa al aswanys tale of an egyptian migrant community in chicago asks timely questions but is marred by its crude representation of america says william skidelsky published. Egyptian and american lives collide on a college campus in post911 chicago, and crises of identity abound in this extraordinary and eagerly anticipated new novel from alaa al aswany. Chicago by alaa al aswany, farouk abdel wahab kirkus. Watch the worldrenowned egyptian novelist alaa alaswany. Friedrich rukert literary award, 2008 alaa al aswany was the first recipient of the award achievement award from the university of illinois, october 2010 alaa al aswany completed his masters degree at the university of illinois tiziano terzani award, odeon, italy. Such a concentration of egyptian histologists, both as faculty and students, is hard to believe, but then so are many of aswanys american details but then chicago isnt. Danana is the most compelling character in the book a thug and a bully in the tradition of chicago mobsters like al capone, someone who. Egyptian and american lives collide on a college campus in post911 chicago, and crises of identity abound in the extraordinary second novel from the highly acclaimed author of the yacoubian building. Interview with alaa alaswany by james romm the fabulist. When egyptian author alaa al aswanys first novel the yacoubian building was published in 2002, overnight it became the bestselling novel in. From alaa al aswany, the author of the highlyacclaimed the yacoubian building, comes a story of love, sex, friendship, hatred, and ambition set in the midwestern city with a cast of american and arab characters achingly human in their desires and needs. All this makes him one of the most important authors in the world today. In this book, alaa al aswany seems to be responding to what some people have.
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. Al aswany, alaa article about al aswany, alaa by the. Alaa al aswany s tale of an egyptian migrant community in chicago asks timely questions but is marred by its crude representation of america says william skidelsky published. 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.
Alaa alaswani is currently the most successful arab novelist. August 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. Alaa al aswany is the author of the yacoubian building, which was long listed for the international impac dublin literary award in 2006 and was the best selling novel in the arab world for over five years, as well as chicago named by newsday as the best translated novel of 2006 and friendly fire. A while ago, one of work mates was telling me he wished to travel to america where all dreams come true and all the impossible can be rendered possible. A novel translated from arabic by farouk abdel wahab, is set not in egypt but in the united states, tracking a brief period in the lives. The publisher of this book allows a portion of the content to be copied and pasted into external tools and documents. In this book, alaa al aswany seems to be responding to what some people have called the american dream which appears in the novel to be, in fact, an american nightmare. Alaa al aswany is the internationally bestselling author of the yacoubian building and chicago. Tragicomic, passionate, shockingly frank in its sexuality, and brimming with an extraordinary, embracing human compassion, the yacoubian building is a literary achievement of the first order. Alaa al aswany, born in 1957, may well be egypts most prominent living writer. Between his work as a dentist and novelist, al aswany remains a highprofile critic of president abdul fattah alsisi. Dec 04, 2019 religion should be a personal, private issue. This is a story of love, sex, friendship, hatred, and ambition, pulsating and alive with a rich and unforgettable cast of american and arab characters who are achingly human in their desires and. In al aswanys followup to the yacoubian building 2005, egyptian students and professors find scant refuge in post911 chicago originally published in egypt in 2007, and a bestseller in france, the novel was inspired by the authors student days in the windy city.
Shikagu is a novel by egyptian author alaaalaswany. We are delivering some of our books from alternative locations, though others may be delayed. About alaa al aswany from the university of chicago press website. The author of the highly acclaimed the yacoubian building returns with a story of love, sex, friendship, hatred, and ambition set in chicago, with a cast of american and arab characters achingly human in their desires and needs egyptian and american lives collide on a college campus in post911 chicago, and crises of identity abound in this extraordinary and eagerly anticipated new novel. Chicago by alaa al aswanyalaa al aswanys tale of an egyptian migrant community in chicago asks timely questions but is marred by.
The novel is about the conflict between politics, sex and money. Apr 23, 2012 give yourself the gift of knowledge subscribe to big think edge. From alaa al aswany, the author of the highlyacclaimed the yacoubian building, comes a story of love, sex. Aswanys next novel, chicago 2007, seems to mirror his own experiences as a. Alaa al aswany is the author of the yacoubian building, which was long listed for the international impac dublin literary award in 2006 and was the best selling novel in the arab world for over five years, as well as chicago named by newsday. Published in arabic in 2007 and in an english translation in 2007. Al aswanys knack for making the personal political.
Al aswany, alaa article about al aswany, alaa by the free. Alaa al aswany, the author of the automobile club of egypt, is no stranger to activism. Sex, money, and politics are the driving forces of society in bestselling novel from alaa al aswany. A journalist who writes a controversial opposition column, al aswany makes his living as a dentist in cairo. Lebanese novelist and critic elias khoury pays tribute to alaa al aswany. The novelist alaa al aswany places his emigre characters in post911 chicago. He is currently in the phd program on islamic culture in west africa at the university of birmingham. International awardwinning writer, bestselling novelist and activist alaa al aswany reads with acclaimed poet linda gregerson, recipient of an american academy of arts and letters award in literature, the kingsley tufts award, and four pushcart prizes. The chicago distribution center is temporarily closed. Alaa al aswany is passionate about nurturing literary talent. Aug 18, 2015 alaa al aswany, the author of the automobile club of egypt, is no stranger to activism. The book the dictatorship syndrome, alaa al aswany is published by haus publishing. Alaa alaswany is the author of the yacoubian building and many other novels. Aswany was the son of abbas alaswany, a lawyer enamoured of.
488 1436 1057 1548 1328 393 1484 553 1495 1272 791 1335 536 1268 1256 92 737 294 1299 554 112 1104 385 1173 238 421 964 1098 467 1469 28 1340 1100 160