The Sultan Bin Ali Al Owais Cultural Foundation hosted a book signing ceremony for “War in the Land of Egypt” by Egyptian novelist Yusuf Al Qa’id, at its Stand at the Abu Dhabi International Book Fair (ADIBF) on Friday, May 3.
Yusuf Al Qa’id won the 14th edition of the Sultan Bin Al Owais Cultural Award for Short Story, Novel, and Drama. During the event, Al Qa’id discussed the context of writing in Egypt since the 1960s, reminiscing about the era’s prominent cultural figures and highlighting the social milieu of creative writers such as Gamal Al Ghitani, Mohammed Hassanein Heikal, Naguib Mahfouz, and others.
Yusuf Al Qa’id speaking at the Al Owais Foundation’s Stand
Al Qa’id also delved into his relationship with film director Salah Abu Seif, who directed Al Mowaten Masry “The Egyptian Citizen” film based on “War in the Land of Egypt”. He recounted how he first met Abu Seif through Naguib Mahfouz, during gatherings near Café Riche.
Naguib Mahfouz, a well-organised person, who had a routine of sitting with director Salah Abu Seif before joining us. “When I learned of their meetings, I expressed my interest in accompanying him to meet Salah Abu Seif. This marked the beginning of our collaboration, and together we decided to adapt the novel into a movie,” Al Qa’id said.
Yusuf Al Qa’id signs copies of his book “War in the Land of Egypt”
“The Egyptian Citizen” narrates the tale of Abdel Razek Al Sharshabi (Omar Sharif), a mayor faced with a dilemma when his youngest son Tawfiq (Khaled El Nabawy) is called for military service, and his wife Safia (Safia El Emari) adamantly opposes it. To circumvent this, he resorts to a controversial solution: persuading a destitute man, Abdul Mawjoud (Ezzat El Alaili), to send his son Masry (Abdullah Mahmoud), in place of Tawfiq, promising him five acres of land in return. Tragically, the Masry meets his end in the army, sacrificing his life for another.
A portion of the attendees at the Al Owais Foundation’s Stand
The book signing event saw the participation of a diverse group of intellectuals, engaging in enriching discussions spanning literature, cinema, politics, and authorship. At the end of the event, Yusuf Al Qa’id graciously signed numerous copies of his book for the attendees.
