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 oldmen 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.

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.

Year: 2024

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