Sheikh Zayed Book Award
1 appearances
-
Edition 3 (2009) Winner
Gamal al-Ghitani
ガマル・アル＝ギターニ
Gamal al-Ghitani
Aliases:
Jamal Al Ghitani / Gamal el-Ghitani
Profile
- Gender
- Male
- Born
- 1945-05-09 （Juhaynah, Sohag Governorate, Egypt）
- Died
- 2015-10-18 （Cairo, Egypt） age 70
- Nationality
- Egyptian
- Languages
- Arabic
- Residence History
- Juhaynah, Sohag Governorate (birthplace) → Cairo, Egypt (grew up, resident)
Career
- Occupations
- Journalist, Author, Novelist, Editor
- Active Years
- 1959-2015
- Affiliations
- Akhbar Al-Adab (editor-in-chief), Akhbar El Yom (journalist/contributor), Al Akhbar (editor), Gallery 68 (literary magazine) — co-founder/participant
- Influenced By
- Naguib Mahfouz, Ibn 'Arabi (intellectual/spiritual influence)
Education
| Institution | Faculty | Department | Degree | Period | Country |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vocational school (carpet design) | — | — | Diploma | — | Egypt |
Vocational school (carpet design)
Degree:
Diploma
Year of Graduation:
1962
Country:
Egypt
Trained as a carpet designer; received a diploma in 1962.
Awards
| Year | Award | Work | Category | Organization | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980 | Egyptian National Prize for Literature | — | — | Government of Egypt | 受賞 |
| 1987 | Ordre des Arts et des Lettres (Chevalier) | — | — | French Ministry of Culture | 受賞 |
| 2005 | Laure Bataillon | Khitāb al-tajalliyāt (The Book of Epiphanies) | — | Laure Bataillon Prize (France) | 受賞 |
| 2009 | Sheikh Zayed Book Award | Rinn | — | Sheikh Zayed Book Award | 受賞 |
| 2014 | Order of the Republic (Egypt) | — | — | Government of Egypt | 受章 |
Egyptian National Prize for Literature
1980
Organization:
Government of Egypt
Result:
受賞
Ordre des Arts et des Lettres (Chevalier)
1987
Organization:
French Ministry of Culture
Result:
受賞
Laure Bataillon
2005
Work:
Khitāb al-tajalliyāt (The Book of Epiphanies)
Organization:
Laure Bataillon Prize (France)
Result:
受賞
Sheikh Zayed Book Award
2009
Work:
Rinn
Organization:
Sheikh Zayed Book Award
Result:
受賞
Order of the Republic (Egypt)
2014
Organization:
Government of Egypt
Result:
受章
Awards & Nominations
Works
Major Works
Al-Zini Barakat
1974 Historical novelA historical novel set in Cairo during Ottoman times, exploring power and everyday life.
PowerHistoryUrban life
Translations
- English translation by Farouk Abdel Wahab (Viking, 1988)
Incidents in Zafrani Alley
1976 Short stories / Urban fictionA collection of short stories set in the alleys of Cairo, portraying urban memory and daily life.
CityMemoryEveryday life
Translations
- English translation by Peter O'Daniel (1986)
- English translation by Farouk Abdel Wahab (The Zafarani Files, 2009)
Khitāb al-tajalliyāt (The Book of Epiphanies)
1983 Prose / ExperimentalA three-volume major work combining prose and narrative exploring memory, history, and personal epiphanies.
MemoryHistoryEpiphany
Translations
- Partial translations into English and French (e.g. Farouk Abdel Wahab)
Rinn
2008 NovelOne of his later major novels, dealing with literary and intellectual themes; winner of the Sheikh Zayed Book Award.
IdeasMemoryCulture
Bibliography
- Awraq Shab ‘Asha mundhu Alf ‘Am (1969)
- Ard .. Ard (1972)
- Al-Zini Barakat (1974)
- Al-Hisar min Thalath Gihat (1975)
- Hikayat el-Gharib (1976)
- Waqa'i' Harat al-Za'farani (1976)
- al-Rifai (1977)
- Dhikr ma Jara (1978)
- Khitāb al-tajalliyāt (1983–1986)
- Muntasaf Layl al-Ghurba (1984)
- Ahrash al-Madina (1985)
- Ithaf al-Zaman bi-Hikayat Jalbi al-Sultan (1985)
- Risala min al-Sababa wal Wagd (1988)
- Ayam El Ro'ab (1988)
- Shath al-Madina (1990)
- Mutun al-Ahram / Pyramid Texts (1994)
- Nithar al-mahw (2005)
- Al Zowail (2006)
- Al-majalis al-Mahfuziyya (2006)
- Rinn (2008)
Translations of Works
- Al-Zini Barakat — English translation by Farouk Abdel Wahab (Viking, 1988)
- Waqa'i' Harat al-Za'farani — English translations by Peter O'Daniel (1986) and Farouk Abdel Wahab (2009)
- Mutun al-Ahram / Pyramid Texts — English translation by Humphrey Davies (2007)
- Khitāb al-tajalliyāt — partial English translations (e.g. Farouk Abdel Wahab)
Style & Themes
- Literary Style
- Historical-fiction techniques combined with experimental proseAllegorical and symbolic expressionStyle mixing cultural and political commentary with narrative
- Recurring Motifs
- Cairo and urban memoryPower and censorshipIntersection of history and personal memory
Legacy
Gamal al-Ghitani was a leading Egyptian writer from the late 20th to early 21st century, known for historical novels and experimental prose. He served for many years as editor-in-chief of the prominent literary magazine Akhbar Al-Adab and contributed to the promotion of Arab literary culture. He received multiple national and international awards and left a significant influence on contemporary Arabic literature.
Quotes
-
Nasser should have listened to Naguib Mahfouz.
Source: Interview by Safaa Azab, Asharq Al Awsat (2014) (2014)
Trivia
- Published his first short story at age 14.
- Received a diploma in carpet design in 1962.
- Imprisoned from October 1966 to March 1967 for political commentary.
- Served as editor-in-chief of Akhbar Al-Adab from 1993 to 2011.
- Married to journalist Magda El-Guindy, editor-in-chief of Al-Ahram's children's magazine.
- Had a son, Mohammad, and a daughter, Magda.
- Died on 18 October 2015 at El Galaa Hospital in Cairo.