What does it mean?
A new volume of poetry for children by poet Shawqi Haggab has been published as part of the Qatr-al-Nada book series for children by the General Egyptian Book Organisation. Under the title What does it Mean? the book poses—and answers, in an attractive and witty rhyming style, questions on the meaning of democracy, children’s rights, patriotism, and suchlike. The illustrations are by Magdi Naguib.
My little sister’s frock
The Education Ministry’s General Management for Libraries has published My Little Sister’s Frock and Other Stories, a collection of 20 short stories written by 20 students in secondary and preparatory schools. The stories were the winning entries in a short story contest held by the ministry in 2006. Altogether some 1,900 students entered the contest.
In Hungarian
Youssef al-Sharouni’s children’s novelette The Story of Radobees—Radobees was a pharaonic princess—which was awarded the 2005 Suzanne Mubarak prize of excellence in a literary work, and which was illustrated by the international Egyptian artist Hani al-Masri, has now been translated into Hungarian. Published by Elias Modern Publishing House, it has already been translated into English and French, and Italian and German translations are in the pipeline. A total of 80,000 Arabic copies were printed for the Ministry of Education to distribute to its school libraries. The story line is inspired by an ancient Egyptian tale which stresses a person’s ability to benefit from all the difficulties and challenges he or she is faced with.
Saber’s Dreams
In his first collection of short stories, Ahlam Saber (Saber’s Dreams), Sami Abu-Zikri delves into the world of the poor and marginalised in society through a human vision. With his sensitive and passionate language, the writer skilfully discloses dozens of contradictions prevalent among the peoples of the Arab world.
Alexandria in Postal Card
The Bibliotheca Alexandrina recently issued the first book of Alexandrian post cards, Alexandria in the Postcard, by Muhammad Nofel. This is thought to be the first documentation of postcards of the city.
Postcards began to be circulated in the late 19th century following the introduction both of cameras and of an international postal service which coincided with the settlement of foreigners in the city and the popularisation of the tourist industry. The postcards depicted everyday life in Alexandria. The first part of the book—the period from 1890 to 1956, issued in English—includes 800 wonderful pictures, each with a caption or description, together with tickets for Alexandria’s famous Terram or tramway, and cinema, tourist hotel cards, as well as images of ancient landmarks, villas, palaces and the Corniche. An Arabic language edition is in production.
Coptic Journalists
Researcher Ramy Atta’s book Copts in the Memory of Egyptian Journalism (Aqbat fi Thakirat al-Sahafa al Misriya) is a biography of a number of Copts who made significant contribution to the Egyptian press during the period 1877-1930. Prominent among them was Tadros al -Manqabadi, Tawfiq Habib, and Mikhail Abdel-Sayed. Salama Moussa, who is also famous as an enlightenment figure, is the exception who continued in the press field till the late 1950s. The book was published by the Coptic Orthodox Youth Bishopric, and carries an introduction by Youth Bishop Anba Moussa.
Alex east to west
The General Egyptian Book Organization (GEBO) has published Wedad al-Hawari’s most recent poetry collection Awelna Bir Massoud (Our First Spot is Bir Massoud). The volume includes 37 poems written in simple, expressive Arabic close to the language of the street, which serves to bring the poet’s ideas swiftly into focus and endow them with a down-to-earth feel. She reminisces about her hometown Alexandria and its long stretch of coastline, starting with the famous Bir Massoud promontory in the east, and moving westward till Morsi Abul-Abbas. She writes about the sea, the waves, the fishermen and the famous Alexandria beaches.
Folk heritage
A new volume of the quarterly Al-Fonoun al-Shaabiya (Folk art) is out. It includes studies on the Egyptian folk epic-ballad Al-Sira al-Hilaliya, on birds in folk proverbs, Mar-Girgis (St George) in folk tradition, and a description of Moulid al-Adra or the annual folk celebration of the Holy Virgin at Mostorod, north of Cairo. This volume also includes studies on Geek mythology, Vietnamese legends, and South African folk tales. The quarterly is a GEBO publication.