The book was made into a film of the same name in 2006 and into a tv series in 2007. On the other hand, to eradicate illiteracy requires. Constructed as a series of vignettes about characters whose fates will soon converge, a stylistic device highly popular in todays hollywood, egyptian author alaa al aswanys arabic bestseller the yacoubian building brings to life a seedy and despicable cairo where only the corrupted and the corruptible can fare well. Deep discounts with our club pricing plan, 30 day free trial. In this book the author has given vast knowledge related gender relations to provide knowledge to youth. The yacoubian building 2006 the yacoubian building. The yacoubian building was a very bold book, the likes of which. Oct 18, 2018 the yacoubian building provides a glimpse into the complicated lives of residents of an egyptian building.
Regrettably, in july 2006 the egyptian parliament censored the film version of the novel. Alaswanys novel first describes the yacoubian building as one of the most magnificent and luxurious building in the city, having survived in its status since 1934. Built in 1934 by an italian firm for an armenian millionaire, the yacoubian building, ten lofty stories in the high european style, is a metaphor for. Feb 22, 2005 book excerpts from chapter 1 of yacoubian building feb. Ive heard many reasons for its popularity here in egypt. A master of characterisation, alaa al aswany entwines the reader in an allengaging story that. After the 1952 revolution, in which abdel nasser replaced king farouk, most of the occupants in the building flee the country. Taha, the son of the yacoubian buildings doorkeeper.
Themes in the yacoubian building by lancelot naipierkane. Now al aswany may become even more famous for a series of articles published in egypts opposition press from 2005 to the date of the revolution. New novels from literary powerhouses like viet thanh nguyen, kazuo ishiguro, and richard flanagan. It tells the story of life in cairo through several interwoven narratives. Gender relations in the yacoubian building researchomatic. Bestsellers new releases recommended award winners coming soon free audiobooks free premium 50% off 50 specials browse all. Ella wind on the yacoubian building by alaa al aswany and the dark side of love by rafik schami. Independent foreign fiction prize nominee for longlist 2008, premio grinzane cavour nominee for narrativa straniera 2007 category. Islamism and the yacoubian building bradley farless. You may select a momentscene dealing with taha, or if youve read the whole book, any one of the other characters.
Alaa alaswanys novel the yacoubian building 2002, arabic tells the story of a group of people loosely bound together by dint of living in the same crumbling building a real place in downtown cairo. The yacoubian building is an apartment building which was built in egypts glory days. An initial investigation and analysis of healthcare expenditures in hong kong. Yacoubian building by alaa alaswany 1102 words essay example. His general research interests include syrian nationalism, arab nationalism. Carl yonker, tel aviv university, department of arabic and islamic studies, department member. The yacoubian building in hebrew books the guardian.
With adel emam, nour elsherif, youssra, essad youniss. The yacoubian building is the sort of dense neighbourhood novel which, though quite out of style when set in london or. To conclude, the yacoubian building was the bestselling arabic novel for 2002. Built in the 1930s, the building was an architectural gem that housed the cream of society, but it underwent considerable change over the decades that followed. Zaki bey then expatiated on this to make his meaning clearer to his friend, saying, do you remember that maid at home who used to beguile your dreams when. The yacoubian building, stripped of the literary nuance that. A novel and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. Arabic literature the yacoubian building essay 2203 words. A conversation with alaa alaswany on the yacoubian building. A dentist whose first office was in the yacoubian building, he has written prolifically for egyptian newspapers across the political spectrum on literature, politics and social issues. In his novel, the yacoubian building, alaa alaswany presents an accurate image of modern egypt.
The purpose of the present paper is to attempt a reading of alaa alaswanys novel, the. Egyptian sexuality in the 90s homosexuality was a taboo prostitution was made legal in late 18s up to early 19s. Imarat yaqubyan is a novel by egyptian author alaaalaswany. A building is not just about bricks and mortar or wood, or sheets of drywall. Myafrica is the unrest panelists talked about and consultant. Aug 27, 2006 an actual downtown cairo landmark called the yacoubian building is the book s unifying element, housing all strata of egyptian society. In a 500700 word response between 12 pages, discuss the adaptation of one moment in the book to the film. An international bestseller, the yacoubian building is a mesmerising and controversial novel that is at once an impasssioned celebration and a ruthless dissection of a society dominated. Yacoubian building by alaa alaswany 1102 words essay. The purpose of the present paper is to attempt a reading of alaa alaswanys novel, the yacoubian building, in the light of new historicism. The analysis of the yacoubian building 2004 shows that the english literary market is not closed to translated fiction, including works from the arab world. Pdf the yacoubian building book by alaa al aswany free. The novel of interest the yacoubian building written by 1219 words 5 pages. Building a novel you need to fill in the form and provide your personal information.
In the automobile club of egypt, women are the driving force for. Reviewed by amie daraves a rare and penetrating look into modern egyptian society can be found in alaa al aswanys novel, the yacoubian building. It has been reported to be the highestbudgeted film in the history of egyptian cinema. Economics in the yacoubian building gender in the egyptian 90s apartment vs. The novel of interest the yacoubian building written by alaa al aswany has been praised by scholars since the material highlights the taboo of homosexuality and offers insight about egyptian society and its culture. Prostitutes were given permits and had to be checked for disease every week. The yacoubian building by alaa alaswany 2006 by janine jones. After that event, the title building, the yacoubian, turned from a luxury apartment for the ultra rich into a decrepit building, not much more than a slum whose function is to house only the lowest of society. One doesnt need a university diploma to realize that the ruler is oppressive and corrupt.
Rad book clubs latest read and the last title in our third series was the yacoubian building, a novel by egyptian writer alaa al aswany. This book had a remarkable impact on leftists around the world because of both its analysis of oppressions impact on the colonized, as well as fanons warnings of the dangers inherent in neocolonialism. Al aswanys novel the yacoubian building conveys the. Discussion and analysis in 1934 the millionaire hagop yacoubian, leader of the armenian community in egypt at that time, had the idea to construct a building that bears his name, with a palatial classic european style. Book recommendations from dsas international committee. Pdf politics, freedoms and spirituality in researchgate.
A rare and penetrating look into modern egyptian society can be found in alaa al aswanys novel, the yacoubian building. Themes and controversythe yacoubian building was branded a controversial novel by commentators due to the subjects addressed within its pages, including honest portrayals of a variety of sexual relationships, political corruption and abuse, and the dangers of political islam. It follows the stories of several characters who live in the yacoubian building, a onceluxurious building that houses rich residents inside and. The yacoubian building provides a glimpse into the complicated lives of residents of an egyptian building. Will screen as toddler toys growing challenge of the appropriate yacoubian building alaa al aswany s r best professional resume writing services. They work closely together to ensure the best results are achieved through a synthesis of concept, beauty and functional. His first major novel was the yacoubian building, published in arabic in 2002 and in english translation in 2006. In the book, each of the main characters struggles to achieve personal happiness in the new egypt following the revolt of 1952. Carl yonker is lecturer in the department of arabic and islamic studies at tel aviv university and a recent graduate. Meditations on corruption, fundamentalism, prostitution, homosexuality, and drugs in. Amie daraves is a washington report on middle east affairs, intern. Shipping may be from multiple locations in the us or from the uk, depending on stock availability. The book revolves around the stories that takes place in yacoubian building one of the most luxurious and prestigious building in cairo that public figures, politicians, and wealthy people livi published in arabic in 2002, and was later translated into english in 2004. If you cant find good in your own country, you wont find it anywhere else.
Id like to talk about this phenomenon of the yacoubian building. The vast majority of the novel takes place in the actual yacoubian building, the former paramount of egyptian liberalism. The personal truly is the political, and the yacoubian building exemplifies that statement. Set in an actual building in downtown cairo, the controversial bestseller weaves. Audiobook downloads to your computer, smartphone or tablet. The yacoubian building, an immense scandal when first published because of its sexual frankness, has topped bestseller lists for two years and is now a film with a hollywoodsize budget. The yacoubian building is set in cairo around 1990, the time of the gulf war. Studies syrian nationalism, syrian history, and lebanese history. Recently translated to hebrew, alaa alaswanys dark novel is swirling. The yacoubian building 2006 the yacoubian building 2006. The yacoubian building, by alaa al aswany, trans humphrey.
The yacoubian building revolves around the lives of tenants who face misfortune after misfortune. The book focuses mainly on the residents of the yacoubian building, a oncechic but now rundown edifice that acts as a metaphor for cairos own deterioration. An initial investigation and analysis of healthcare expenditures in hong kon. And it becomes its surroundings, a product of its environment, urban or rural, organic.
The edition used in this guide was translated by humphrey davies. Published in 2002 in its original arabic edition, the yacoubian building is a novel by egyptian author alaa al aswany. It is the people who built it, and the people and other creatures who inhabit it, make use of it. The tenants problems seem to revolve around the misuse of religion. The yacoubian building of the title is a microcosm of much of cairo, and in telling the stories of various of its denizens alaa al aswany offers a colourful picture of contemporary egypt. An actual downtown cairo landmark called the yacoubian building is the books unifying element, housing all strata of egyptian society. Set in the late 20th century egypt, after the egyptian revolution of 1952, the yacoubian building started filling up with people from egypts lower class, while some others from the upper and middle classes stayed put. Structured as a series of intersecting vignettes, the yacoubian building deals with themes of sex, power, longing and despair. After the 1952 revolution, in which abdel nasser replaced king farouk, most of the occupants in the building. Mar 06, 2016 alaa al aswanys the yacoubian building 2002, which became a bestselling egyptian and arab novel worldwide in the past decade, owes its title to the ambition of an armenian millionaire who wanted immortality through a building that bears his name.
Some wealthy families occupy the large apartments there, but impoverished residents live on the roof in what was formerly servants quarters. The decline of egypt mirrors that of the tenants, ending up in a storm of hate, drunkenness and subjugation. Saids postcolonial analytical framework may not offer the best current methodology to explain these phenomena. Yacoubian building houses uncomfortable truths february 22, 2005 the controversial, bestselling egyptian novel the yacoubian building describes a country that is corrupt, unfair and thuggish. The yacoubian building summary and study guide supersummary. Alaa alaswany is the bestselling author of three previous books published in arabic. Pdf onthestateofegyptwhatcausedtherevolutione book. The book focuses mainly on the residents of the yacoubian building, a oncechic but now. This is particularly true when adapting a book into a screenplay and then into a film, all the more so when that novel has gained a great deal of financial and critical success. He is one of the oldest residents of suleiman basha street, an almost folkloric figure, and his very particular mode of dress and celebrated cigar are a part of the natural scenery. The book has been a bestseller throughout the arab world for the past four years. By alaa al aswany, the american university in cairo press, 2004, 245 pp. Before discussing the characters and their roles, one must first look at the setting.
In the novel, alaswany portrays an array of sexual relationships. In this paper, i try to support gerard genettes conception of focalization, that was first proposed by him in his book. Aswany brings those who live and work there vibrantly alive. Erected in the mid 1930s in cairos newly europeanized centre, the building is an architectural jewel, and was then the home of a multitude of egyptian pashas, wealthy europeans, and star artists. Indeed, the yacoubian building was a rare victory for freedom of expression in egypt. It follows the stories of several characters who live in the yacoubian building. The yacoubian building by alaa al aswany petcharys blog. Mar 22, 2016 what the yacoubian building video movies with vasken yacoubian building analysis. The following is a short essay i wrote about the yacoubian building for an undergraduate history course. Analysis of the poem the yacoubian building 71 words. Carl yonker is lecturer in the department of arabic and islamic studies at tel aviv. Aaron agreed with raj in that the book was easy reading mrt friendly aka alexius we missed you. Nov 09, 2010 the yacoubian building in hebrew ngo claims translation of alaa al aswanys bestseller promotes israelipalestinian understanding. Set in an actual building in downtown cairo, the controversial bestseller weaves together the lives of several characters to create a daring social critique.
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