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    He wrote in various types of prose and contributed to developing some of them, such as the essay, letter writing, short story, novel and drama.

    No man of letters, in Arabic literature, has ascended to the position Tawfiq Al Hakim acquired in this art, in quality and quantity.

    Tawfiq Al Hakim was born in 1903 in Alexandria. His father was a rich man, a member of the Judiciary. As his father moved a lot from one place to the other, Al Hakim did not regularly finish his studies.

    He settled in Cairo until he obtained his Bachelor in Law in 1925. He satisfied his desire in attending and reading plays, acting and trying to write for the theatre through reading European literature. He had all aspects that contributed to his maturity and creativity.

    Al Hakim's Profile:

    Tawfiq Al Hakim's personality was shaped, since he was a little boy, by tranquillity like his father. He was impressed by the tales his mother used to narrate to him in his literary inclination and his fondness of art. He was capable of meditation, imagination, recalling his experience and rearranging them in his own way, according to the rule of association of ideas and comes out with a new image. He had a strong personality and self-confidence.

    In secondary school, his quiet nature became more obvious. He was inclined to play mental games and to hold dialogues with students in poetry and literature.

    When the 1919 Revolution broke out, he joined the students' demonstrations, he published complete texts of famous plays performed in French and European theatres. He translated, into Arabic, a French comedy and called it "Al Areess", (The Groom).

    He was very much fond of the theatre and showed a special interest in theatrical art since 1922 where tragic plays were prominent. For Tawfiq Al Hakim, drama was dominant through plays of Ibrahim Ramzy and Muhammed Taymour, which marked the beginning of the serious Egyptian theatre. At that period, he wrote some plays which are still performed by public dramatic troupes such as "Khatim Soliman", (Solomon's Ring), "Ali Baba" and "Al Dyeaf Al Saqeel" (The Unwelcomed Guest). These plays were not completely objective and artistic.

    In 1925, Al Hakim travelled to France to obtain PhD. in Law from Paris University. There, he had a better chance to satisfy his artistic and literary inter-ests. He left his studies in Law and concentrated on drama, novel and classical music. He was keen on attending international dramatic masterpieces and became more acquainted with cultural and artistic circles.

    From his experience in France, Al Hakim came to preserve the spirit of the Orient and what was presented by the popular and dramatic troupes in Cairo was far from being elevated literature. He took the responsibility of laying the foundations of the serious Egyptian theatre.

    During his stay in Paris, he wrote a number of novels and plays. In 1926 he wrote the first tragedy "Amam Sheebak Al Tazaker", (Before the Ticket Office) in French, then translated it into Arabic in 1935, and was published among a group of autobiographical plays in 1937. in 1927, he wrote a group of short stories, published in 1934 under the title "Al Awalm". In 1928, he wrote the play "Awdet Al Rouh", (The Return of the Spirit).

    After his return from France, he balanced between his job and writing. He worked as a deputy prosecutor in mixed courts in Alexandria. He settled in Alexandria and pursued his writings and meditations in a coffee shop in Al Raml Square.

    In 1929, he moved to civil courts and worked in many cities among which were Tanta, Darmanhour and Dessouk. Therefore, he strengthened his connections with the Egyptian society and its problems which he depicted in his writings, such as " Yowniiat Naa'b Fi Al Ariaf", ( The Diary of a Prosecuter in Rural Areas) and " Zekriat Fi Al Fan Wa Al Adala", ( Memories in Art and Justice), which were greatly appreciated and brought about his literary fame.

    Tawfiq Al Hakim worked as a journalist in Akhbar Al Yom, then as a manager of the Egyptian National Library in 1951. In 1954, He was chosen as a member of the Arabic Language Academy.

    In 1956, he became a permanent member of the Higher Council for Arts and Literature. He worked, for one year, as a resident representative of his country to the UNESCO in Paris till 1960, then returned to the membership of the Higher Council for Arts and Literature. In 1961, he was granted the State Merit award.

    Tawfiq Al Hakim and Theatrical Art The theatrical art of Tawfiq Al Hakim went through many stages. It consists of three types:

    I- Biographical Theatre:

    The group of plays he wrote in his early life and in which he expressed his personal experience and attitudes towards issues in life. They were more than 400 plays among which were "Al Arees", (The Groom) and "Amain Sheebak Al Tazaker", (Before the Ticket Office). These plays were more artistic because they were based on Al Hakim's personal opinion in criticising social life.

    2- Intellectual Theatre: This dramatic style produced plays to be read not acted. Thus, he refused to call them plays and published them in separate books, so as not to be acted.

    3- Objective Theatre:

    It aims at contributing to the Egyptian society, by fixing some values of the society, exposing realities of life and depicting Egyptian life.

    Tawfiq Al Hakim was able to understand nature and depict its concepts in a distinguished style which combines symbolism, reality and imagination. His style was characterised by mastering narration, dialogue and selecting settings.

    Tawfiq Al Hakim had a great influence on Arabic literature and theatre:

    In the theatre, he was an innovator and the author of a particular school of thought. He introduced dialogue in Arabic literature and made the play a literary work read for its own not just for acting. This idea is considered the core of the world of Tawfiq Al Hakim. As for literature in general, he contributed to upgrading the short story and novel. His stories show his ability in description which requires accurate observation and knowledge. He also made diary writing one of the arts of Arabic literature.

    He obviously impressed the Egyptian society through his opinions and philosophy in life and his contribution to political, social and literary issues. He set an example in advocating freedom of opinion and sacrificing positions and money. According to his principle in life, he did not meet any ruler even if the ruler himself asked to meet him.

    Tawfiq Al Hakim said that he was not a man of slogans, he behaved naturally and did not isolate thought from society by pursuing any specific political activity. He believed that true words and great values and thoughts are the only things that led Man through all phases of life and built the history of nations and peoples.