Yusuf Abu Rayya 1955-2009
was born in Hihya in the Nile Delta. He published six short story collections, five novels, and seven books for children. He was on the governing board of the Egyptian branch of PEN International.
He was awarded the Naguib Mahfouz Medal for Literature for in 2005 for his novel Wedding Night, whose English edition by AUC Press was reviewed in Banipal 34 – The World of Arabic Fiction.
To read the review online, click here
His short story "Homecoming", translated by Denys Johnson-Davies was published in that same issue, Banipal 34.
The story is included in Denys Johnson-Davies's new major collection, entitled Homecoming, of Egyptian short stories by 57 of the authors he has translated over 60 years of translating contemporary Arabic literature. Published by AUC Press, 2012.
Contributor's Issues
Banipal No 34 published April 2009
Latest News
06/02/2012At a celebration of literary translation on Monday 6 February at Kings Place, Khaled Mattawa will receive the 2011 Saif Ghobash Banipal Prize for Arabic Literary Translation.
[read more]03/02/2012
The Mosaic Rooms celebrates theartistic and poetic works of the great Syrian poet Adonis with talks and events from 3-8 February and an exhibition of Adonis's collages from 3 February until 30 March. The opening evening this Friday sees Adonis in conversation with Khaled Mattawa who is the winner of the 2011 Saif Ghobash Banipal Prize for his translation Adonis: Selected Poems.
[read more]16/01/2012
Khaled Mattawa wins the 2011 Saif Ghobash-Banipal Translation Prize for Adonis:Selected Poems
[read more]12/01/2012
Chair of IPAF Judges Georges Tarabichi announces the shortlist authors of the 2012 International Prize for Arabic Fiction.
[read more]09/01/2012
Banipal Book Club's first book for discussion is The Tobacco Keeper by Ali Bader.
[read more]08/01/2012
Ibrahim Aslan, one of Egypt's best-loved authors, has died of heart failure at the age of 77.
[read more][read all news stories]