11 - 17 April 2002
Issue No.581
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Al-Ahram Weekly Online 11 - 17 April 2002 Issue No.581 |
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Man of letters
One thing that distinguished Tharwat Abaza from other authors was his eloquent, captivating style, in which he wrote such remarkable novels as Al- Harib min Al-Ayyam (He Who Flees the Days) and Shay' min Al- Khawf (A Little Fear). Even Taha Hussein paid tribute to his prowess. His well-received debut was Ibn Ammar, with which he surprised the literary world, having established himself as a critic and cultural commentator. With Ibn Ammar, almost overnight he became one of the Arab world's most important writers. He was one of a few authors who specialised in the novel, producing a new novel every year.
Tharwat Abaza grew up in a literary family, his house full of poetry recitals and critical debates. I happen to know that he had memorised the entire corpus of Ahmed Shawqi's work even as a child. All this no doubt contributed to his remarkable achievement as an author.
Yet Tharwat Abaza did not receive the critical attention, and especially praise, that he deserved. Many critics based their assessment of him on his political positions, which, whether or not you agree with them, should ultimately have no bearing on one's view of his writing.
Based on an interview by Mohamed Salmawy.
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