
Traces: A Memoir
Mae Ghalwash
Gamal al-Ghitani. Nader K. Uthman, tr.
2020, AUC Press, 978-9-77416-953-3, $25 pb.
The essence of this memoir lies in its opening epigraph, “As if life were a memory,” by acclaimed Egyptian poet Fuad Haddad (1927–1985). Al-Ghitani (1945–2015), a renowned writer himself, recounts his life through passages of fleeting thoughts, emotions and disjointed memories. Originally written in 2005 in Arabic, Uthman's translation maintains the memoir’s integrity and haunting spirit. Before his 2015 passing, the celebrated Egyptian author wrote more than a dozen novels, winning state and international awards. This work presents vintage al-Ghitani, with his sensitive pondering of life, melancholic probing of the past and existential questions. It's an invitation into his mind, with even the shortest instances and thoughts recorded. Al-Ghitani brings to life his childhood neighborhood in Old Cairo, his favorite food vendors and explores his and his father’s parenting abilities. Traces seems to transcend temporality and physicality, as al-Ghitani switches between reality, thoughts and dreams, often only hinting at locations and era. But al-Ghitani masterfully weaves his life's vignettes together with a dream-like quality, making the memoir a pleasure to be swept up in.
You may also be interested in...
The Ebb and Flow of History on the Zambezi River
In tracing the past six centuries of history, historian Malyn Hewitt captures the cyclical rise and fall of the river and its people.Umayyad Family Dynasty Creates Unprecedented Empire
Explore the development and history of the Umayyad Caliphate, one of the most consequential empires the world has ever known.Naguib Mahfouz Medal for Literature Winner Gives Voice to Marginalized
“No one else will be destined to write a life story as squalid as mine, although it’s all true,” comments the elusive protagonist of Algerian author Ahmed Taibaoui’s noir novel.