| Arabic Electronic Mail Journal |
| London Phone: (0044) 07 919 021 409 |
| Egyptian Art and Culture |
Edited by S Suwellam, London, UK /
| Ibrahim Abdel Qader AL Mazni |
Ibrahim Abdel Qader Al Mazni was an outstanding pioneer of
the flourishing literary movement of the early 20th century. He
was an eminent novelist, short story writer, essayist, translator
and poet. He was born in Cairo on August 6, 1890, in a
religious environment. His father was an attorney before
Sharia courts. He was also in charge of Sharia (Islamic Law)
affairs at the King's palace.
the flourishing literary movement of the early 20th century. He
was an eminent novelist, short story writer, essayist, translator
and poet. He was born in Cairo on August 6, 1890, in a
religious environment. His father was an attorney before
Sharia courts. He was also in charge of Sharia (Islamic Law)
affairs at the King's palace.
His father died while he was still a child. Following his failure to join the schools of law and medicine thereafter, he
enrolled in the teachers' college
where he graduated and then taught translation. Al Mazni was not convinced with a post that limited his freedom, so he
resigned. He worked a
teacher and a headmaster at private schools. In 1919, with the emergence of the nationalist movement, he left teaching
for politics and the Press. He
contributed to many newspapers, including Al Dostour, Al Akhbar and Al Balagh. He wrote essays, short stories and
reviews. His involvement in the
press was one of the most productive and fertile periods of his career, where he produced a wealth of multi-sided
literary works.
Influencing Factors
Several factors have contributed to bring about Al Mazni's outstanding status in the realm of literature.
His Instinct Propensity and Dedication to Literature
Al Mazni had an instinctive love and deep interest in literature.
This propensity was developed through his readings of the works of prominent Arabic classical writers, such as Al
Jahez, Ibn Al Roumi, Al
Sharif Al Radhi, Abul Alaa Al Ma'arri, Al-Asfahani and Ibn Al Faredh.
His perfect command of English enabled him to study thoroughly masterpieces, especially the romantic and realistic
schools.
The religious environment where he was brought up stimulated him to conduct thorough study and comparison of
religions.
His involvement in the press and teaching obviously influenced his simple and clear style of writing.
Al Mazni as a Poet
His poetry expressed a truthful and genuine nature and an outstanding ability. Moreover, he abandoned poetry because
of his preoccupation with the
nationalist activities of the 1919 Revolution. Dr. Muhammad Mandour, a renowned Egyptian critic, believes that by
God's Blessing, Al Mazni was
made to give poetry for prose, for Arabic literature was rather influenced by his prose which was the best written at his
time. His poetry is compiled
in a collection of poems in two parts entitled "Al Mazni"
Al Mazni as a Prose Writer
Al Mazni's personality had a clear effect on his literature in general and his prose in particular. He had a first-hand
experience of the agonies of life
as inflicted on himself and his nation that suffered from ignorance, disease, deprivation and colonialist domination. The
focus in his literature was on
his own experience and that of his nation. His prose writings covered various genres including essays, novels, short
stories and translations.
Al Mazni as an Essayist
Al Mazni is considered one of the early pioneers who promoted the art of essay writing. He carefully selected his
topics. His essays covered several
themes such as:
His autobiography
Surrounding environment
National and social topics
Criticism
Al Mazni as a Translator
Al Mazni is considered the most outstanding translator known in modern times. He is also known to be most accurate
in selecting phrases and
vocabulary in translation. The most important works he translated included the plays: "The Fugitive Woman", "The Son
of Nature" and "The
School for Scandal".
His Major Works
"Al Mazni's Collection of Poems", "The Poetry of Hafez ","Poetry, Its Aims and Media", "The Harvest of Dry Stalk",
"In Vain", "Trip to Hegaz",
"Life Story" and "Bashar Ibn Bard"
His Novels
"Ibrahim Al Kateb", "Ibrahim II", "Three Men and a Woman", "Recurrence All Over Again" and "Mido and Company"
His Plays
"The Woman's Institute or the law of obedience"
Short stories and Collections of Narrative Essays
"Kaleidoscope", "The Spider Web", "On the Road", "By the Way", "From the Window and sketches from Life", "Al
Mazni's Talks", "Selection
of Al Mazni's writings" and "The Way of Life"
*Source: SIS. Eg.
enrolled in the teachers' college
where he graduated and then taught translation. Al Mazni was not convinced with a post that limited his freedom, so he
resigned. He worked a
teacher and a headmaster at private schools. In 1919, with the emergence of the nationalist movement, he left teaching
for politics and the Press. He
contributed to many newspapers, including Al Dostour, Al Akhbar and Al Balagh. He wrote essays, short stories and
reviews. His involvement in the
press was one of the most productive and fertile periods of his career, where he produced a wealth of multi-sided
literary works.
Influencing Factors
Several factors have contributed to bring about Al Mazni's outstanding status in the realm of literature.
His Instinct Propensity and Dedication to Literature
Al Mazni had an instinctive love and deep interest in literature.
This propensity was developed through his readings of the works of prominent Arabic classical writers, such as Al
Jahez, Ibn Al Roumi, Al
Sharif Al Radhi, Abul Alaa Al Ma'arri, Al-Asfahani and Ibn Al Faredh.
His perfect command of English enabled him to study thoroughly masterpieces, especially the romantic and realistic
schools.
The religious environment where he was brought up stimulated him to conduct thorough study and comparison of
religions.
His involvement in the press and teaching obviously influenced his simple and clear style of writing.
Al Mazni as a Poet
His poetry expressed a truthful and genuine nature and an outstanding ability. Moreover, he abandoned poetry because
of his preoccupation with the
nationalist activities of the 1919 Revolution. Dr. Muhammad Mandour, a renowned Egyptian critic, believes that by
God's Blessing, Al Mazni was
made to give poetry for prose, for Arabic literature was rather influenced by his prose which was the best written at his
time. His poetry is compiled
in a collection of poems in two parts entitled "Al Mazni"
Al Mazni as a Prose Writer
Al Mazni's personality had a clear effect on his literature in general and his prose in particular. He had a first-hand
experience of the agonies of life
as inflicted on himself and his nation that suffered from ignorance, disease, deprivation and colonialist domination. The
focus in his literature was on
his own experience and that of his nation. His prose writings covered various genres including essays, novels, short
stories and translations.
Al Mazni as an Essayist
Al Mazni is considered one of the early pioneers who promoted the art of essay writing. He carefully selected his
topics. His essays covered several
themes such as:
His autobiography
Surrounding environment
National and social topics
Criticism
Al Mazni as a Translator
Al Mazni is considered the most outstanding translator known in modern times. He is also known to be most accurate
in selecting phrases and
vocabulary in translation. The most important works he translated included the plays: "The Fugitive Woman", "The Son
of Nature" and "The
School for Scandal".
His Major Works
"Al Mazni's Collection of Poems", "The Poetry of Hafez ","Poetry, Its Aims and Media", "The Harvest of Dry Stalk",
"In Vain", "Trip to Hegaz",
"Life Story" and "Bashar Ibn Bard"
His Novels
"Ibrahim Al Kateb", "Ibrahim II", "Three Men and a Woman", "Recurrence All Over Again" and "Mido and Company"
His Plays
"The Woman's Institute or the law of obedience"
Short stories and Collections of Narrative Essays
"Kaleidoscope", "The Spider Web", "On the Road", "By the Way", "From the Window and sketches from Life", "Al
Mazni's Talks", "Selection
of Al Mazni's writings" and "The Way of Life"
*Source: SIS. Eg.
