World Literature Reading Group

Our World Literature Reading Group aims to showcase literature written outside of the anglophone world. On our journey we will make a variety of stops in Asia, Africa, the Middle East, the Caribbean, Latin America, and Oceania, tracking down the masterpieces that have otherwise been overlooked. In this ninth group, we will read and discuss Abdel Rahman al-Sharqawi’s Egyptian Earth.

A twelve-year old boy returns from school in Cairo to find his village torn by feuding and fear. A corrupt official has decreed that the peasants must irrigate their fields in five days instead of the customary ten – a demand that threatens to severely disrupt the life of this small community. It will take something extraordinary for the villagers to overcome the greedy ruling-class. The schoolmaster Sheikh Hassouna urges the villagers to stand together if they want to keep custody of the land they have lived on for generations. But it takes many attempts, some disastrous, others comical and touching, before they join forces against their oppressors.

“Egyptian Earth […] is a timeless masterpiece of Arabic literature. [...] The eloquent honesty of the novel distinguishes it in the literary canon as an exceptional example of linguistic achievement and an emphatic declaration of resistance.” (Noshin Bokth, The New Arab)

“[Over] 70 years [after its publication], the ideals of freedom and equality remain for many in Egypt feel as distant as ever. Egyptian Earth serves as a mirror reflecting the resilience and spirit of the Egyptian people. In an era of social upheaval and political uncertainty, this novel offers a compelling reminder of the power of community, solidarity, and collective action.” (Kuhelika Ghosh, brittle paper)