Naguib Mahfouz Medal for Literature
1 appearances
Latifa al-Zayyat
ラティーファ・アル＝ザイヤート
Latifa al-Zayyat
Profile
- Gender
- Female
- Born
- 1923-08-08 （Damietta (Dumyat), Kingdom of Egypt）
- Died
- 1996-09-10 （Cairo, Egypt） age 73
- Nationality
- Egyptian
- Languages
- Arabic, English
- Residence History
- Damietta (birthplace) → Cairo (residence and work)
Career
- Occupations
- Writer, Activist, University professor, Director (arts academy)
- Active Years
- 1946-1996
- Affiliations
- Ain Shams University (English Department, professor), Al Tali'a magazine (cultural editor), Egyptian Arts Academy (director)
- Memberships
- Iskra (Egyptian communist group), Committee for the Defense of National Culture (chair)
- Influenced By
- Inji Efflatoun (activist)
Education
| Institution | Faculty | Department | Degree | Period | Country |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cairo University | Faculty of Arts / English | Department of English | 学士（英語） | 1942–1946 | Egypt |
| Cairo University | — | — | 博士（PhD） | 1946–1957 | Egypt |
Cairo University
Faculty of Arts / English
/ Department of English
Degree:
学士（英語）
Period:
1942–1946
Year of Graduation:
1946
Country:
Egypt
Received a BA in English; active in student movements.
Cairo University
Degree:
博士（PhD）
Period:
1946–1957
Year of Graduation:
1957
Country:
Egypt
Earned a PhD in 1957.
Awards
| Year | Award | Work | Category | Organization | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1996 | Naguib Mahfouz Medal for Literature (inaugural winner) | The Open Door | — | The American University in Cairo Press | 受賞 |
Naguib Mahfouz Medal for Literature (inaugural winner)
1996
Work:
The Open Door
Organization:
The American University in Cairo Press
Result:
受賞
Awards & Nominations
Works
Major Works
The Open Door
1960 NovelA modern novel covering 1946–1956 that follows the protagonist's political and sexual awakening and formation of female identity. Notable for its use of colloquial Egyptian Arabic and its feminist perspective.
Women's emancipationPolitical awakeningModernization and social change
Adaptations
- [Film] The Open Door (film) / Henry Barakat (1963)
Translations
- English translation: The Open Door
The Owner of the House
NovelA novel addressing the relationship between home and society and the place of women. Exact publication year and page count are not specified here.
Family relationsRole of women
Translations
- Available in English translation
Bibliography
- The Open Door (1960)
- The Owner of the House
- Essays and criticism (women's issues, cultural criticism)
Adaptations
- The Open Door — film adaptation (1963)
Translations of Works
- The Open Door → English translation: The Open Door
- The Owner of the House → English translation available
Style & Themes
- Literary Style
- Use of colloquial Egyptian Arabic for vivid narrationRealism with social and political perspectives
- Recurring Motifs
- Formation of female identityTensions between home and the public spherePolitical awakening and social movements
Health
-
Cancer晩年Suffered from cancer in later years and died in 1996.
Legacy
Latifa al-Zayyat is recognized for works that combine feminist perspectives and political awakening, significantly influencing modern Egyptian literature and women's movements. Google honored her with a Doodle on her 92nd birthday in 2015.
Archives
- Latifa Al Zayyat website (archived)
In Popular Culture
- Google Doodle for her 92nd birthday in 2015
Trivia
- Was arrested and detained in 1949 during student demonstrations against the British occupation.
- Her 1960 novel The Open Door was notable for its use of colloquial Arabic and depiction of a woman's political and sexual awakening.
- Google published a Doodle in 2015 commemorating her 92nd birthday.