Nasser in the Egyptian Imaginary - Paperback

by Omar Khalifah (Author)

The late President of Egypt, Gamal Abdel Nasser (1918-1970), has been represented in many major works of Egyptian literature and film, and continues to have a presence in everyday life and discourse in the country. Omar Khalifah's analysis of these representations focuses on how the historical character of Nasser has emerged in the Egyptian imaginary. He explores the recurrent images of Nasser in literature and film and shows how Nasser constitutes a perfect site for plural interpretations. He argues that Nasser has become a rhetorical device, a figure of speech, a trope that connotes specific images constantly invoked whenever he is mentioned. His study makes a case for literature and art to be seen as alternative archives that question, erase, distort and add to the official history of Nasser.

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'In this carefully organised, well written, and abundantly referenced study, Omar Khalifah takes on a fascinating topic. The result is a thoroughly original and important portrait of one of the Arab world's most significant figures in the twentieth century, someone whose impact, as the author concludes, continues to resonate across the Arabic-speaking world.' Roger Allen, University of Pennsylvania Examines representations of Gamal Abdel Nasser in Egyptian novels, short stories, autobiographies and films The late president of Egypt, Gamal Abdel Nasser (1918-70), has been represented in many major works of Egyptian literature and film, and continues to have a presence in everyday life and discourse in the country. Omar Khalifah's analysis of these representations focuses on how the historical character of Nasser has emerged in the Egyptian imaginary. He explores the recurrent images of Nasser in literature and film and shows how Nasser constitutes a perfect site for plural interpretations. He argues that Nasser has become a rhetorical device, a figure of speech, a trope that connotes specific images constantly invoked whenever he is mentioned. His study makes a case for literature and art to be seen as alternative archives that question, erase, distort and add to the official history of Nasser. Key Features - Contributes to the ongoing debate on Nasser and his relevance to modern Egyptians - Traces, contextualises and analyses the making of Nasser's image(s) in creative productions including novels, short stories, autobiographies and film - Shows how Nasser functions for many Egyptians as a site of memory at times disconnected from the real historical figure he once was Omar Khalifah is Assistant Professor of Arabic Literature and Culture at Georgetown School of Foreign Service in Qatar. Cover image: Gamal Abdel Nasser (c) Omar Seddek Mostafa Cover design: [EUP logo] edinburghuniversitypress.com ISBN 978-1-4744-1019-9 Barcode

Author Biography

Omar Khalifah is assistant professor of Arabic Literature and Culture at Georgetown School of Foreign Service in Qatar. He received his PhD from the Department of Middle Eastern, South Asian, and African Studies at Columbia University. In addition to modern Arabic Literature, Khalifah's research interests include memory studies, world literature, and cinema and nationalism in the Arab world.