Zaat [Paperback]

Sonallah Ibrahim (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 15, 2004

This unusual and much lauded novel tells the story of the life of an Egyptian woman the eponymous Zaat during the regimes of three Egyptian presidents: Abdel Nasser, Sadat, and Mubarak. Imbued with an Egyptian sense of humor and deeply rooted in the culture and politics of the modern period, the novel takes a humorous but often black look at the changes that have occurred in Egypt over the past few decades. Zaat's life experiences and relationships are set against economic and social upheavals in a style that is both sophisticated and bawdy, highly ironic and often extremely poignant. Zaat's story is interspersed and illustrated with extracts from newspapers of the day headlines, articles, captions, death notices, advertisements reflecting events and incidents contemporary with her life. Beautifully put together with bitter and cutting irony, they tell of corruption, financial scandals, torture, foreign debt, and social problems. The heroine epitomizes the hopes, dreams, and ambitions of simple folk tossed about on the stormy sea of modernization, consumerism, and the ever-present mirage of new wealth. Zaat is a brilliant social commentary that provides keen insights into how Egypt has come to be the way it is today.

Editorial Reviews

Language Notes

Text: English (translation)
Original Language: Arabic --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

About the Author

Sonallah Ibrahim was born in 1937. After studying law and drama at Cairo University, he became a journalist in Cairo until his arrest and imprisonment in 1959. Upon his release in 1964, he briefly returned to journalism in Egypt before moving to Berlin and Moscow. He returned to Egypt in 1976 and since then has dedicated all his time to writing. He received the Oweiss Prize in 1993. Zaat was first published in Arabic in 1992. His latest novel, Amrikanli, was published in Arabic in 2003.
Anthony Calderbank lived in Cairo for many years and has had a long interest in Arabic language and literature. He currently works in Saudi Arabia.

Product Details

• Paperback: 344 pages
• Publisher: The American University in Cairo Press; 1st Paperback Ed edition (March 15, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 9774248449
• ISBN-13: 978-9774248443
• Product Dimensions: 7.8 x 4.9 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #224,691 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #78 in Books > Literature & Fiction > World Literature > Middle Eastern

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The best you can evre read, October 31, 2003

By 

Usama Azer (cairo- Egypt) - See all my reviews

This review is from: ZAAT (H) (Modern Arabic Writing) (Hardcover)

If you want to know the modern history of Egptian you must read this book !! it takes you to the social life of the modern egyptian from 70's to end of 80's . and also the effect of the media,poltics and economy on our life. with real headers of newspapers.It is a new way of writing in arabic shockes you about the facts we face in our life and we don't care!!! we just live!!Sonallah lights up we are doing in our life. braeks all the taboo's we belive in !!!IT is amazing book.

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Excellent Book, February 15, 2004

By 

"abuelruluf" (San Diego, CA USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: ZAAT (H) (Modern Arabic Writing) (Hardcover)

I am halfway through the book and I must say that I am enjoying it tremendously. The author describes the life of Zaat, a simple egyptian woman who works in the archives department of a government newspaper. The book would have deserved 5 stars if not for some obvious typos in the text. The editor should have gone through this book at least one more time.

I like the way the author alternates between chapters of excerpts from egyptian newspapers and chapters dealing with the daily life of Zaat. The newspaper excerpts are very effective in conveying the corruption, totalitarian system of government, and apathy towards human and consumer rights in Egypt. The life of Zaat shows the daily concerns of a simple minded egyptian, some sort of egyptian Forrest Gump without the achievements of the latter.

As an aside, I had no idea that Egypt was this corrupt. It is a shame that corruption has permeated this society at every level. I had just finished reading a book about the Congo and Mobutu's reign. It is now obvious to me that foreign aid is a curse when given to totalitarian nations. It keeps unsustainable forms of government thriving as the elite of the regime suck all the foreign aid to their benefit and use that money to distribute favors and stay in power.

I highly recommend this book.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars ok but lots of news clips that were too detailed for me, April 9, 2011

By 

apocalypse blonde (michigan, usa) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Zaat (Paperback)

this was a decent book but i found the characters uninteresting for the most part and couldnt get attached. i also found the in-between chapters full of newpaper articles distracting - unless you know a rediculous amount about egyptian current events and politics it can be confusing. overall an ok read, but i wouldnt recommend it.