AUNT SAFIYYA AND THE MONASTERY PDF

Click here and buy Aunt Safiyya and the Monastery from So the narrator’s father placates and sends away all Safiyya’s many. This brief, beautifically crafted novel introduces one of the finest contemporary Arab novelists to English-speaking audiences. In it, Bahaa’ Taher, one of a group . of the history of the village and the monastery (Chapter One, “The. Miqaddis Bishai”), events proceed uninterrupted to tell Aunt Safiyya’ s story (Chapter Two.

The book can be of great use to any student engaged in the study of both Egyptian society and Arabic literature. It is taken for granted that. The text also flows idiomatically.

Taher has a magical gift for evoking the village life of Upper Egypt-a vastly different setting than urban Cairo and aaunt landscape that tourists usually glimpse only from the windows of trains and buses taking them to the Pharaonic sites. Hence a translation of one of his works is particularly welcome.

In it, Bahaa’ Taher, one of a group of Egyptian writers-including the Nobel Laureate Naguib Mahfouz-noted for their revealing monzstery of Egyptian life and society, tells the dramatic story of a young Muslim who, when his life is threatened, finds sanctuary in a community of Coptic monks. Simply told, without adornment or much authorial intrusion, this is a brief tragedy with resonances wider than its village setting. Here, where Christians and Muslims have coexisted peacefully for centuries, where the traditions of the Coptic Church are as powerful as those of the Muslims, Taher crafts an intricate and compelling tale of far-reaching implications.

With a powerful narrative voice and a genius for capturing the complex nuances of human interaction, Taher brilliantly depicts the poignant drama of a traditional society caught up in the process of change. Readers Comments Sfaiyya tender novel with a strong message of love Reviewer: Reviews and Readers monasteery on Bahaa Taher’s Novel.

This is probably the first English translation of any of Bahaa’ Taher’s fiction. Aunt Safeyya and the Monastery. I only used the glossary once – for curiousity not meaning. This novel “is set 30 years ago in a village outside Luxor. Moreover, he handles both topics extremely well. The characters are complex and realistic – the wise ones recognizing both the past and the future in a country just stripped of the Sinai in war.

Romaine has rendered an immense service to non-Arabic readers by introducing them to an important writer of the Arab moastery.

Bahaa’ Taher is questioning the source of this evil, hate, and violence that evolved between the peoples of the same land. When a village woman invokes the ancient custom of blood feud to seek vengeance on the man who, in self-defense, has killed her husband, the monastery offers him sanctuary.

This book should be a must read for all schoolchildren in Egypt to teach them about Egyptian history of tolerance and peace. The book stands quite well on its own, thankyou.

Aunt Safiyya and the Monastery by Bahaa’ Taher – Paperback – University of California Press

It would be great if he would consider writing a romance. I rarely read Mideastern literature because I generally find it less than engrossing. The most useful part. This brief, beautifically crafted novel introduces one of the finest contemporary Arab novelists to English-speaking audiences. This novel, his most recent, is the first to appear in English.

Asfiyya novel is describing the life in a tje village in Egypt where Copts Egyptian Christians and Moslems Egyptian Moslems lived together in peace and harmony for centuries. And if, like most translations of writings by contemporary Egyptians, this English rendering is superior to the Arabic original, then the latter must be sophomoric indeed. Bahaa’ Taherwho lives in Geneva, has written three novels and several collections of short stories. Here, where Christians adn Muslims have coexisted peacefully for centuries, where the traditions of the Coptic Church are as powerful as those of the Muslims, Taher crafts an intricate and compelling tale of far-reaching implications.

Books Digital Products Journals. About the Book This brief, beautifically crafted novel introduces one of the finest contemporary Arab novelists to English-speaking audiences. It provides a positive picture of Islam – a picture sadly needed in the West – as well as of the Copts, largely unknown in the West. While one wishes the author would write an historic novel based upon the relations of the monophysites and neighboring sects through the ages, Taher achieves something perhaps greater; creating his own byzantine while never imposing an entirely personalized view -or judgment- upon his very believable characters.

The narrator’s father and an old monk, Bishai, join forces–Muslim and Christian–to protect Harbi. This is a fascinating novel by a fine and very distinguished writer.

Aunt Safiyya and the Monastery- Novel by Bahaa Taher

With a powerful narrative voice and a genius for capturing the complex nuances of human interaction, Taher brilliantly depicts the poignant drama of a traditional society caught up in the process of change. And I’d quite comfortable but the introduction at the back A religious village leader and a kindly monk conspire to protect the pursued man and to instill more human standards of conduct. With an introduction and a glossary starting the book, I expected a difficult book.

Bahaa’s style reflects his tender feelings and a sense of nostalgia for the past, the ‘good old’ and peaceful days. The translator’s introduction is quite perceptive and useful, though the style is sometimes redundant.

He is one of the Arab world’s major writers. The novelist’s style is so tender and his words flow soft like clouds.

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But the entirely personal and private flavor of it takes its strength from the vignettes of the main characters. In it, Bahaa’ Taher, one of a group of Egyptian writers—including the Nobel Laureate Naguib Mahfouz—noted for their revealing portraits of Egyptian life and society, tells the dramatic story of a young Muslim who, when his life is threatened, finds sanctuary in a community of Coptic monks.

The story weaves together a tale social difference Muslim, Copt, tenent farmer. About the Author Bahaa’ Taherwho lives in Geneva, has written three novels and several collections of short stories. This slim, taut novel is a very good answer to anyone who believes Egypt is only about Nasser, one-eyed Nefertiti idols, or political irresolve.

Taher’s abilities as a storytellerand stylist shine. I must acknowledge Barbara Romaine for her translation of this book, it is simply flawless.

He enriches modern Arabic literature with an evocation of aspects of society and tradition that have not always received a great deal of attention from fiction writers.