Egypt 1919: The Revolution in Literature and Film - Paperback

by Dina Heshmat (Author)

The 1919 anti-colonial revolution is a key moment in modern Egyptian history and a historical reference point in Egyptian culture through the century. This book offers a close reading of a wide range of novels, films, plays and memoirs that feature this momentous historical event. By examining canonised as well as neglected works, Dina Heshmat highlights the processes of remembering and forgetting that have contributed to shaping a dominant imaginary about 1919 in Egypt, coined by successive political and cultural elites. Informed by concepts of class and gender, this book brings out a number of issues that underlie the memory of 1919 in Egypt, as it is constantly evolving by ongoing social, cultural and political struggles. As the author seeks to understand how and why so many voices have been relegated to the margins, she reinserts elements of the different representations into the dominant narrative. This opens up a new perspective on the legacy of 1919 in Egypt, inviting readers to meet the marginalised voices of the revolution and to reconnect with its layered emotional fabric.

Back Jacket

Traces the portrayals of the 1919 Egyptian Revolution in literary and cinematic narratives The 1919 anti-colonial revolution is a key moment in modern Egyptian history and a historical reference point in Egyptian culture through the century. This book offers a close reading of a wide range of novels, films, plays and memoirs that feature this momentous historical event. By examining canonised as well as neglected works, Dina Heshmat highlights the processes of remembering and forgetting that have contributed to shaping a dominant imaginary about 1919 in Egypt, coined by successive political and cultural elites. Informed by concepts of class and gender, this book brings out a number of issues that underlie the memory of 1919 in Egypt, as it is constantly evolving by ongoing social, cultural and political struggles. As the author seeks to understand how and why so many voices have been relegated to the margins, she reinserts elements of the different representations into the dominant narrative. This opens up a new perspective on the legacy of 1919 in Egypt, inviting readers to meet the marginalised voices of the revolution and to reconnect with its layered emotional fabric. Key Features - Re-examines the 1919 Egyptian Revolution in light of the momentous events of 2011 - Draws on theoretical approaches in memory studies to investigate the construction of 1919 as a moment of ecstatic nationalist unity and unconditional support to for the rising Egyptian bourgeoisie - Provides a new analysis of canonical novels by Naguib Mahfouz and Tawfiq al-Hakim, and of a popular film by Hassan al-Imam - Analyses lesser-known narratives such as plays by Amin Sidqi (including an unpublished manuscript), Sa'd al-Din Wahba and Laila Soliman; novels by Fikri Abaza, Mustafa Musharrafa, Amin 'Izz al-Din and Ahmed Mourad; memoirs by Mustafa Amin; and a television drama by Isma'il 'Abd al-Hafiz Dina Heshmat is Assistant Professor of Arabic Literature at the American University in Cairo.

Author Biography

Dr Dina Heshmat is an Assistant Professor of Arabic Literature at the American University in Cairo. She is the author of Cairo in Modern and Contemporary Egyptian Literature (Supreme Council of Culture in Egypt, 2007).