Yusuf Idris, also Yusif Idris (May 19, 1927 - August 1, 1991) was an Egypt

Egypt

Egypt , officially the Arab Republic of Egypt, Arabic: , is a country mainly in North Africa, with the Sinai Peninsula forming a land bridge in Southwest Asia. Egypt is thus a transcontinental country, and a major power in Africa, the Mediterranean Basin, the Middle East and the Muslim world...

ian writer of plays, short stories, and novels. Idris originally trained to be a doctor, studying at the University of Cairo. He sought to put the foundations of a modern Egyptian theatre based on popular traditions and folklore, his main success in this quest was his most famous work, a play called "Al-Farafeer" depicting two main characters: the Master and the "Farfour" [=poor layman]. For some time he was a regular writer in the famous daily newspaper Al-Ahram. It is known that he was nominated several times to win the Nobel prize for literature.

From the English

English language

English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...

 edition of The Cheapest Nights:
"While a medical student his work against Farouk’s regime and the British led to his imprisonment and suspension from College. After graduation he worked at Kasr el Eini, the largest government hospital in Egypt. He supported Nasser’s rise to power but became disillusioned in 1954 at the time when his first collection of stories The Cheapest Nights was published . . Yusuf Idris’ stories are powerful and immediate reflections of the experiences of his own rebellious life. His continuing contact with the struggling poor enables him to portray characters sensitively and imaginatively."

Idris won the 1997 Naguib Mahfouz Medal for Literature

Naguib Mahfouz Medal for Literature

The Naguib Mahfouz Medal for Literature is a literary award for Arabic literature. It is given to the best contemporary novel written in Arabic, but not available in English translation. The winning book is then translated into English, and published by American University in Cairo Press...

 for his novel City of Love and Ashes.

Idris' daughter Nesma Idris

Nesma Idris

Nesma Idris is an Egyptian short story writer. She is the daughter of famed Egyptian author Yusuf Idris. Her 2003 collection of short stories Malek walla Ketaba was runner-up for the Sawiris Prize in the "young writers" category. She has also been involved with the Egyptian feminist group Women...

is also a published writer.

Main Works

Short Stories

• The Cheapest Nights. أرخص ليالى
• Isn't it ? أليس كذلك ؟
• Dregs of the city. قاع المدينة
• The Hero. البطل
• An incident of Honour. حادثة شرف
• The End of the world. آخر الدنيا
• Tha Language of Oh Oh. لغة الآى آى
• The summons. النداهة
• A House of Flesh. بيت من لحم
• I am Sultan of the law of existence. أنا سلطان قانون الوجود
• The Freak

Plays

• The Cotton King & Farahat's republic. Two Plays ملك القطن و جمهورية فرحات
• The Critical Moment.اللحظة الحرجة
• Al-Farafir. الفرافير
• Earthly Comedy. المهزلة الأرضية
• The striped Ones. المخططين
• The Third Sex. الجنس الثالث
• Towards an Arabic Drama نحو مسرح عربى
• The Harlequin البهلوان

Novels and Novellas

• Farahat's Republic & A Love story. [Two novellas] جمهورية فرحات و قصة حب
• The Sin. الحرام
• The Disgrace. العيب
• Men and Bulls,The Black Soldier,Mrs. Vienna.[Novellas] رجال وثيران- العسكرى الأسود- السيدة فيينا
• The White. البيضاء

Other writings

• Not very frankly speaking. بصراحة غير مطلقة
• Discovery of a continent. إكتشاف قارة
• The Will. الإرادة
• Diary of Dr. yusuf Idris. مفكرة الدكتور يوسف إدريس
• The '60s Gabarty. جبرتى الستينات

External links

• Youssef Idrees from Egypt state information service.
• "Yusuf Idris of Egypt, Playwright, Dies at 64", New York Times, August 3, 1991.