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'This finely nuanced, clearly written and comprehensive study introduces readers to the writing of one of Egypt's most prominent, accomplished and controversial writers of fiction in the last half-century.' Roger Allen, Emeritus Professor, University of Pennsylvania An introduction to the novels of the contemporary Egyptian author Sonallah Ibrahim Sonallah Ibrahim is one of the most important Arabic novelists of the modern era, with an unrivalled reputation for independence and integrity among contemporary Egyptian writers. Here, each of the author's novels is discussed individually, beginning with the influential Tilka al-ra'iha [That Smell] (1966) and ending with al-Jalid [Ice] (2011), with each work discussed in its literary, social, historical and political context. The volume traces the evolution of Sonallah Ibrahim's work both thematically and in terms of his literary technique, and concludes with an attempt at an overall evaluation of the author's contribution to the contemporary Egyptian novel. Paul Starkey's account shows how innovative and stylistically rich the Arabic novel has become over a period of some fifty years, beyond the better-known work of writers such as Naguib Mahfouz and Yusuf Idris. As such, the volume will serve as an introduction not only to the individual author but also to the development of Egyptian (and, more generally, Arabic) literature over the last half century. Paul Starkey was, until his retirement in 2012, Professor of Arabic and Head of the Arabic Department at Durham University. He is co-editor of the Encyclopedia of Arabic Literature (1998) and author of Modern Arabic Literature (Edinburgh University Press, 2006). Cover image: (c) Marc Melki Cover design: [EUP logo] edinburghuniversitypress.com [please note new web address] ISBN 978-0-7486-4132-1 Barcode
About the author
Paul Starkey was, until his retirement in 2012, Professor of Arabic and Head of the Arabic Department at Durham University, UK, and Co-Director of the Centre for the Advanced Study of the Arab World. He is currently Vice-President of the British Society for Middle Eastern Studies. Paul Starkey has published widely in the field of modern Arabic literature, as well as on Middle Eastern travel literature; he was co-editor of the Encyclopedia of Arabic Literature (1998) and author of Modern Arabic Literature (EUP, 2006). He has also translated a number of novels and short stories into English, including most recently The Book of the Sultan's Seal by the Egyptian author Youssef Rakha.
Summary
This book provides an introduction not only to the works of Sun'Allah Ibrahim, but also, more generally, to the modern literature of Egypt (and elsewhere in the Arab world) over a 40-year period, in its social, historical and political setting.
