Mohamed el-Bisatie
Mohamed el-Bisatie was an Egyptian novelist and short story writer.
Life
He was born in el-Gamalia, Dakahlia Governorate, overlooking the shores of Lake Manzalah in the Nile Delta. He graduated from Cairo University in 1960 and then entered government service. He continued his career as a civil servant until his retirement a few years ago.Career
El-Bisatie started writing in the early 1960s and published many stories in leading journals such as al-Masa', al-Katib and al-Majalla. He is considered to be part of the Egyptian literary movement that was spearheaded by the avant-garde magazine Gallery 68. His first book, a collection of stories called Al-kibar wa al-sighar was published in 1967–68. Since then, he has published more than a dozen works of fiction, including novels and short story collections.Six of his books are available in English translation. His work has also been translated into Italian, French, German and Spanish. Noted Arabic translators such as Denys Johnson-Davies and Hartmut Fahndrich have translated el-Bisatie's fiction, into English and German respectively.
Awards and honours
El-Bisatie has won a number of awards in his illustrious career, including the Al Owais Prize in 2001 and the Sawiris Prize in 2008. His novel Hunger was shortlisted for the 2009 International Prize for Arabic Fiction.Selected works
Short story collectionsAl-kibar wa al-sighar Hadith min al-tabik al-thalith wa kissas ukhra Ahlam rijal kissar al-‘umr Hatha ma kan Munhana al-nahr Daw' da'if la yakshuf shya'an Sa'at maghrebNovelsAl-Tajir wa-l-Naqqash Al-Maqha al-Zujaji Al-Ayyam al-Sa'aba Beyout Wara' al-Ashgar Sakhb al-Buhaira Thakafa Gamahiriyya Dar el-Maghreby Aswat el-Leil Wa Ya'ati al-Kitar Layal Ukhra Fardous
In English translationA Last Glass of Tea and Other Stories - short stories, translated by Denys Johnson-Davies Houses Behind the Trees - novel, trans. Denys Johnson-Davies Clamor of the Lake - novel, trans. Hala Halim Over the Bridge - novel, trans. Nancy Roberts Hunger - novel, trans. Denys Johnson-Davies Drumbeat - novel, trans. Peter Daniel