Bashir Khrayyef


Bashir Khrayyef was a Tunisian writer, considered "the father of the realist novel in Tunisia." He is known for his harshly realistic descriptions of Tunisian society as well as for his use of Tunisian Arabic in the dialogues of his novels.

Early life and education

Khrayyef was born on April 10, 1917, in Nefta, government of Tozeur in southwest Tunisia. He came from a literary family; his brother was the poet Mustafa Khrayyef.

Writing career

Khrayyef's most famous historical novel, Barq al-layl is set in Tunis during 16th-century Hafsid rule. The novel treats the topics of slavery and racism through the love story of the protagonist, a black slave.
Arguably his most influential novel, al-Digla fī ‘arājīnihā, is set in an oasis community in the southwest desert of Tunisia in the 1910s–1930s. The remoteness of the community is emphasized through the use of a local dialect of Tunisian Arabic. The book also articulates the relationship between the Tunisian labor movement and the later independence movement.
His final novel, Ḥubbak darbānī recounts an impossible love between a man and a prostitute.

Novels

Barq al-layl al-Digla fī ‘arājīnihā
  • Ḥubbak darbānī, written in 1958

Short story collections

Mashmūm al-Full, included the stories "Khalīfat al-ʼaqraʻ" خليفة الأقرع and "Maḥfaẓa al-samār", previously published in the magazine al-Fikr'' in 1965 and 1970

Other Stories

  • Nokhal Baya Lilet loutya Hobbek derbani
  • ''Ballara''

Awards