Humphrey davies earned his doctorate in near eastern studies from the university of california, berkeley. The bestselling author of he yacaoubian building and hicago turns his attention to current affairs in egypt. The yacoubian building by alaa al aswany 1684 words 123. The yacoubian building by alaa al aswany books the. Alaa al aswany, bestselling egyptian novelist known especially for his social commentary and vocal criticism of the egyptian government. The yacoubian building by alaa al aswany goodreads. Alaa alaswany during his monthly seminar in the leadership and management development center on 25 april 20. The yacoubian building is his second published novel. Sep 03, 2007 buy the yacoubian building reprint by aswany, alaa al, davies, humphrey isbn. 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.
The yacoubian building by alaa al aswany 9789774248627. The characters are believable and the story is engrossing. Buy the yacoubian building reprint by alaa al aswany, humphrey davies isbn. I found the novel both well written and structured. A journalist who writes a controversial opposition column. The yacoubian building, which was a bestselling novel in the arab world for more than five years. Wed love you to buy this book, and hope you find this page convenient in locating a place of purchase. Download for offline reading, highlight, bookmark or take notes while you read the yacoubian building. Set in the late 20th century egypt, after the egyptian revolution of 1952, the yacoubian building started filling up with people from egypts lower class, while some others from the upper and middle classes stayed put. The book was published in multiple languages including english, consists of 256 pages and is available in paperback format. The book focuses mainly on the residents of the yacoubian building, a once. It would be difficult to overestimate the impact that alaa al aswany s novel has had in egypt.
If one or more works are by a distinct, homonymous authors, go ahead and split the author. The yacoubian building presents a surprising survey of contemporary egyptian society at a time when many people may assume that all arabs or muslims are the same. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. The yacoubian building by alaa al aswany 1684 words. The yacoubian building, by alaa al aswany, trans humphrey. A novel by alaa al aswany and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. The yacoubian building is a novel about modernday cairo, using the residents of the building as a broad crosssection of egyptian society. Aug 01, 2006 the yacoubian building is a novel about modernday cairo, using the residents of the building as a broad crosssection of egyptian society. August book sense picka fading aristocrat and selfproclaimed scientist of women.
Alaa al aswanys controversial bestseller the yacoubian building offers a lurid snapshot of cairo. The first edition of the novel was published in 2002, and was written by alaa al aswany. Stream and download audiobooks to your computer, tablet or mobile phone. A rare and penetrating look into modern egyptian society can be found in alaa al aswanys novel, the yacoubian building. The yacoubian building by alaa al aswany, humphrey t. The yacoubian building in cairo, has seen better days. The yacoubian building of the title is a microcosm of much of cairo, and in telling the stories of various of its denizens alaa al aswany offers a colourful picture of contemporary egypt. All live in the yacoubian building, a onceelegant temple of art deco splendor slowly decaying in the smog and hubbub of downtown cairo, egypt. The boo k was made into a film of the same name in 2006 and into a tv series in 2007. Built in the 1930s, the building was an architectural gem that housed the cream of society, but it underwent considerable change over the decades that. The book was made into a film of the same name in 2006 and into a tv series in 2007.
In the course of this unforgettable novel, these disparate lives converge, careening inexorably toward an explosive conclusion. Alaa alaswany, bestselling egyptian novelist known especially for his social commentary and vocal criticism of the egyptian government. Free download or read online the yacoubian building pdf epub book. The yacoubian building is a book written by an egyptian former dentist alaa al aswany. Alaa al aswany primary author only author division. Through their various exploits, we learn about businessmen, politics, closet homosexuality, students, entrepeneurs and families living hand to mouth.
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. Imarat yaqubya n is a novel by egyptian author alaaalaswan y. The yacoubian building, which was a bestselling novel in the arab world for more. The yacoubian building by alaa al aswany books library. A journalist who writes a controversial opposition column, al aswany makes his living as a dentist in cairo. Oct 29, 2015 the yacoubian building by alaa al aswany in chm, epub, fb3 download ebook. This controversial bestselling novel in the arab world re. This is true of alaa al aswanys novel from 2002, the yacoubian building imarat yaqubyan.
Buy the yacoubian building reprint by aswany, alaa al, davies, humphrey isbn. Alaa alaswanys latest work explores class divisions, corruption and injustice as the masters take the servants for a ride in 1940s cairo. The yacoubian building by alaa al aswany librarything. Alaa al aswany, born in 1957 and a dentist by profession, has written from an early age. Due to its political content however, the book had to be published privately, but soon after its release it sold out in a month becoming one of the number 1 bestsellers of the arab world for more. Published in arabic in 2002 and in an english translation in 2004, the boo k. Alaa al aswany is currently considered a single author. James buchan applauds alaa al aswanys arabic bestseller about sex and power, the yacoubian building. Alaa al aswanys empathy and perceptive detail in this novel about the inhabitants of a cairo apartment building yield a credible evocation of. Alaa al aswany is the internationally bestselling author of the yacoubian building and chicago. Alaa alaswany s latest work explores class divisions, corruption and injustice as the masters take the servants for a ride in 1940s cairo. Alaa al aswany has emerged, in the decade since the publication of his first novel, the yacoubian building, as the most popular writer in egypt and the most prominent egyptian writer in the. His first major novel was the yacoubian building, published in arabic in 2002 and in english translation in 2006. An international bestseller, the yacoubian building is a mesmerising and controversial novel that is at once an impassioned celebration and a ruthless dissection of a society dominated by bribery and corruption.
The main characters of this fiction, northern africa story are. This is true of alaa al aswany s novel from 2002, the yacoubian building imarat yaqubyan. The book was initially published in arabic in the year 2002. The yacoubian building is a novel by egyptian author alaaalaswany. The yacoubian building has topped the bestseller lists for over two years, been adapted for the. All content included on our site, such as text, images, digital downloads and other, is the property of its content suppliers and protected by us and international laws. Set in an actual building in downtown cairo, the controversial bestseller weaves together the lives of several characters to create a daring social critique. It would be difficult to overestimate the impact that alaa al aswanys novel has had in egypt. Aug 27, 2006 an actual downtown cairo landmark called the yacoubian building is the books unifying element, housing all strata of egyptian society. Imarat yaqubyan is a novel by egyptian author alaaalaswany. Using the title building as his center aswany portrays a diverse group of contemporary cairenes to demonstrate the experience of living in the world of egypt today. The yacoubian building is the sort of dense neighbourhood novel which, though quite out of. The author of the highly acclaimed the yacoubian building returns with a story of love, sex, friendship, hatred, and ambition set.
The yacoubian building is the sort of dense neighbourhood novel which, though quite out of style when set in london or. In the novels and short stories of alaa al aswany, characters struggle with class differences, police brutality, poverty, sexual harassment, and political corruption. A journalist who writes a controversial opposition column, al. Egyptian and american lives collide on a college campus in post911 chicago, and. 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. This has given al aswany the opportunity to develop many interesting characters. Alaa al aswany is the author of the automobile club of egypt. The links will take you to the web sites home page. Aswany brings those who live and work there vibrantly alive. The yacoubian building once grand, but now dilapidated stands on one of cairos main boulevards.
The story line is fastpaced and sweeps you along a panorama of egyptian lives. This is almost an oldfashioned book like a family saga, except the family is the inhabitants of a the yacoubian building. An actual downtown cairo landmark called the yacoubian building is the books unifying element, housing all strata of egyptian society. Pdf the yacoubian building book by alaa al aswany free. The yacoubian building is fastmoving and actionpacked, with drama in every scene and shifts between the different strands used to provide tension. Its a sort of reverse upstairs, downstairs building, with the more wealthy living in multi room apartments on one of the ten floors, while the poor live in small tin huts on the roof. Constructed as a series of vignettes about characters whose fates will soon converge, a stylistic device highly popular in todays hollywood, egyptian author alaa al aswanys arabic bestseller the yacoubian building brings to life a seedy and despicable cairo where only the corrupted and the corruptible can fare well. Taha, the doormans son, has aspirations beyond the slum in the skies, and dreams. 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. My only complaint is that i wish the book were longer. Chicago, named by newsday as the best translated novel of 2006.
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