Egyptian Earth - Paperback

by Abdel Rahman Al-Sharqawi (Author), Desmond Stirling Stewart (Translator)

A twelve-year
old boy returns to his village from school in Cairo to find the community torn
by feud and fear. A corrupt official has decreed the fields must be irrigated
in five days, instead of the customary ten - a demand that threatens to disrupt
the economy and life of the whole village. But rebellion is contrary to their
traditional attitude of servility and easy-going natures. It takes many
attempts - some disastrous, others comical and touching - before they can
organise anything like an effective resistance. Working together, the young and old men and women in the village discover that if you
are faithful to the land, it will care for you.

Egyptian Earth was first published in 1954, when almost one million Egyptians besieged President Nasser in Abdin
Palace, protesting the military dictatorship and demanding land reforms. An epic drama of great power, this
compassionate and humorous tale of defiance is a masterpiece of modern Arabic
literature.

Author Biography

Abdel Rahman al-Sharqawi (1920-1987) was born into a peasant family in the
Egyptian province of Menoufia. His first works were published while he was a
student at the law school of the University of Cairo, and he became widely
known after the publication of his novel Egyptian Earth in 1953. The
author of four novels as well as numerous short stories, poetry collections and
plays, his work is highly regarded for its realism and commitment to social
issues of the day. Al-Sharqawi also took part in the antimonarchy struggle and founded
the progressive journal Al-Katib, which advocated peaceful cooperation
among peoples. In 1974, al-Sharqawi received the State Appreciation Award in
Literature by the Egyptian government.