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Yusuf Idris

ユースフ・イドリース

Yusuf Idris

Profile

Gender
Male
Born
1927-05-19 （Faqous, Sharqia Governorate, Kingdom of Egypt）
Died
1991-08-01 （London, United Kingdom） age 64
Nationality
Egypt
Languages
Arabic, English
Religion
Islam
Residence History
Faqous (birthplace) → Cairo (residence and activity) → London (place of death)

Career

Occupations
Writer, Playwright, Short story writer, Screenwriter, Trained physician
Active Years
1950-1991
Affiliations
Egyptian Writers' Union (possible affiliation)
Memberships
Egyptian Writers' Union

Education

Cairo University
Faculty of Medicine
Country: Egypt
Studied medicine and was suspended temporarily for political activities; after graduation he worked at a major government hospital.

Awards

Naguib Mahfouz Medal for Literature
1997
Work: City of Love and Ashes
Organization: American University in Cairo
Result: 受賞

Awards & Nominations

Works

Major Works

The Cheapest Nights

1954 Short stories

A collection of short stories portraying everyday life of the common people and political oppression, reflecting contradictions of human nature and social injustices. A signature collection that includes works depicting 1950s Egyptian society.

PovertySocial realismPolitics and oppression
Translations
  • English translation: The Cheapest Nights and Other Stories (translated by Wadida Wassef, 1978)

Al-Farafeer

Play

A play grounded in popular traditions and oral storytelling, depicting the contrast between the Master and the poor layman (Farfour) to explore social inequality with elements of farce. Considered an important work in modern Egyptian theatre.

Class disparityPopular cultureSatire
Adaptations
  • [Theatre] Al-Farafeer (stage production)

City of Love and Ashes

Novel

A novel exploring human relationships and social conflicts. Known for its English translation and for having won the Naguib Mahfouz Medal for Literature.

LoveLossSocial friction
Translations
  • English translation: City of Love and Ashes (published by American University in Cairo Press)

Bibliography

  • The Cheapest Nights
  • Al-Farafeer
  • Farahat's Republic
  • The Sin
  • The Disgrace
  • City of Love and Ashes

Adaptations

  • Multiple stage productions of plays including Al-Farafeer

Translations of Works

  • The Cheapest Nights and Other Stories (English translation, 1978)
  • City of Love and Ashes (English translation)
  • Rings of Burnished Brass (English translation)

Style & Themes

Literary Style
Social realismConcise, direct proseIncorporation of folk and oral-tradition elements
Recurring Motifs
Poverty and class divisionUrban life and hardshipHonor and masculinity

Legacy

Yusuf Idris is one of the leading figures of 20th-century Egyptian literature, known especially for innovations in short stories and modern theatre. His realistic portrayals of popular life highlighted key social issues in Egypt and earned international recognition through translations.

Academic Societies

  • Egyptian Writers' Union

In Popular Culture

  • Idris's plays have been repeatedly staged in Egyptian theatres and are used in theatre education.

Quotes

  • “While a medical student his work against Farouk’s regime and the British led to his imprisonment and suspension from College. After graduation, he worked at Qasr El Eyni Hospital... Yusuf Idris’ stories are powerful and immediate reflections of the experiences of his own rebellious life. His continuing contact with the struggling poor enables him to portray characters sensitively and imaginatively.”
    Source: From the English edition of The Cheapest Nights (excerpt) (1978)

Trivia

  • His name in Arabic is يوسف إدريس.
  • He was imprisoned and suspended from university due to political activities as a student.
  • His daughter Nesma Idris is also a published writer.
  • The play Al-Farafeer is regarded as a landmark of modern Egyptian theatre.