The automobile club, like the yacoubian building where aswany established his first dental clinic actually exists, in the same shabby, downtown neighbourhood of cairo s former european quarter. The automobile club of egypt, by alaa al aswany, translated from the arabic by russell harris fiction. Alaa al aswany became a contributing opinion writer for the international new york times in the fall of 20. Kamel likewise falls into a resistance group of democratic sympathisers led by a renegade prince who worries that the kings love of gambling has turned the automobile club. The egyptian writers latest novel lacks the political bite of his debut the yacoubian building. The automobile club of egypt is an excellent novel, about family honor and resilience of spirit. About the automobile club of egypt in britishoccupied egypt, on the eve of the 1952 revolution, respected landowner abd elaziz gaafar. Inside the automobile club of egypt two very different worlds exist side by side. Full of absorbing incident, and marvelously drawn characters, the automobile club of egypt gives us egypt on the brink of changes that resonate to this day. In the case of the automobile club of egypt, one answer is that the novel slaps egyptians in the face with the message that they are, by and large, an incorrigible, lazy, passive and decadent. And the egyptians of the automobile club will face a stark choice to live safely, but without dignity, or to fight for their rights and risk everything.
The automobile club of egypt pima county public library. And the egyptians of the automobile club will face a stark choice. The automobile club of egypt by alaa al aswany overdrive. Set in postworld war ii cairo, the novel narrates two principal stories. As the family is drawn into the turbulent politics of egypt public and privateboth servants and masters are subsumed by the countrys social upheaval. The automobile club of egypt by alaa al aswany penguin. The last gasp of colonialism, as told by one of egypts most beloved storytellers. The automobile club of egypt new hampshire state library. Russell harris abd elaziz gaafar, formerly a wellrespected landowner now in the grip of penury, moved his family to cairo and took on menial work at the automobile club. Exuberant and powerfully moving, the automobile club of egypt is an essential work of social criticism from one of the arab world s greatest literary voices. Bankrupt, he moves his family to cairo and takes a menial job at the automobile club. The automobile club of egypt by alaa al aswany, paperback. The studious kamel, who gives arabic lessons to the rebellious daughter of the club. About the automobile club of egypt in britishoccupied egypt, on the eve of the 1952 revolution, respected landowner abd elaziz gaafar has fallen on hard times.
Russell harris from the most popular egyptian novelist of his generation a suitable heir to the mantle worn by naguib. The story revolves around a clubthe automobile club the workers, the relationships and the brutality of the english manager toward the egyptian workers. The automobile club of egypt is alaa alaswanys latest book, and matches if not bests his earlier yacoubian building. As an institution of royal patronage, the automobile club of al aswany s book is a reflection of wider egyptian power structures. Published in 2006, the automobile club of egypt is a very interesting story. The club of the book s title is both a department of motor vehicles and an exclusive lodge where carowning foreigners and egyptians meet for rest and recreation. August 20, 2015 alaa al aswanys new book sets the dynamics of a fallen family and an elitist car club against the tensions of post.
The automobile club of egypt, by alaa al aswany the. The automobile club of egypt king county library system. The automobile club of egypt, by alaa al aswany financial times. Based on this sampling of your current read, give a few impressions and predict what youll think by the end. Two of his three sons then get jobs at the club to support their mother and sister but also pursue secret activities. Alaa al aswanys new book sets the dynamics of a fallen family and an elitist car club against the tensions of postworld war ii egypt, but a. The father, once a large land owner in upper egypt loses his fortune and is forced to work in the automobile club. The automobile club of egypt by alaa al aswany, russell. It is an english translation of the original arabic, written for an egyptian public. Alaa alaswanys latest work explores class divisions, corruption and injustice as the masters take the servants for a ride in 1940s cairo. The automobile club tours egypt s troubled history. The automobile club of egypt daedalus books d73933.
As an institution of royal patronage, the automobile club of al aswanys book is a reflection of wider egyptian power structures. Buy the automobile club of egypt translation by aswany, alaa al, harris, russell isbn. It is an irresistible confirmation of al aswanys reputation as one of the worlds most beguiling storytellers and insightful interpreters of the human spirit. Find items like the automobile club of egypt at daedalus books. Search encore for the automobile club of egypt this search result is offered as a helping hand to find books in the library ireland encore system. In britishoccupied egypt, on the eve of the 1952 revolution, respected landowner abd elaziz gaafar has. Full of absorbing incident, and marvelously drawn characters, the automobile club of egypt gives us egypt. In britishoccupied egypt, on the eve of the 1952 revolution, respected landowner abd elaziz gaafar has fallen on hard times. The automobile club of egypt one of the most colorful books i own. The automobile club of egypt by alaa al aswany fits the bill. The automobile club of egypt large print hardcover. Egyptian novelist alaa al aswanys the automobile club of egypt begins with two of its characters chiding the author for telling their story from his point of view and then.
Bankrupt, he moves his family to cairo and takes a menial job. The titular club, the automobile club of egypt, is founded as a combination dmv and clubhouse for foreigners, the occupying british and the local royalty. This was my first time reading alaa al swany, and i look a oncerespected landowner is forced to take a job at the automobile club in cairo, a position that brings him and his family shame. In the automobile club of egypt, women are the driving. Al aswany, born in 1957, originally trained as a dentist, and still has his own.
When wellrespected landowner abd elaziz gaafar is forced into bankruptcy, he moves his wife and family from daraw to cairo and finds work at the automobile club of egypt. Exuberant and powerfully moving, the automobile club of egypt is an essential work of social criticism from one of the arab worlds greatest literary voices. The automobile club of egypt depicts an egyptian family. Full of absorbing incident, and marvelously drawn characters, alaa al aswanys novel gives us egypt. Automobile and touring club of egypt sidibishr, cairo, egypt, 11111 rated 4. Set in the automobile club and in the home of the abd elazia family, this novel tells the story of several of the family members.
1680 1338 725 339 272 727 741 968 1403 1515 1411 772 610 1503 706 1675 1015 994 1242 1621 1036 1174 852 639 381 525 456 92 1589 432 1032 1296 1642 724 729 57 461 1025 13 119 652 865 575 302 1105 201 1396