1934- 2003
In the field of folklore and ethnography, Shawki Abdel-Hakim was a well-known Egyptian researcher and author.
He was a playwright and novelist of prolific creations, who depicted Egyptian and Arab scenes through ages, and was honoured at the fifth international experimental theatre festival held in Cairo, September 1993. He was also paid tribute to at the Arab theatre symposium, Cairo 1995 for his contributions to the theatre.
He wrote a good number of epic stories, legends and folk tales, among which are:
"Encyclopaedia of Arab folklore and legends"
"Arab folk tales"
"Arab Folk Poetry"
"Epic of Bani Hilal"
"Alzir Salem"
"Sarah and Hajir"
"Aziza and Younis"
" The literature of peasants"
"Mahmoud kabir".
"al-Amira Dhat al-Himma" (the princess of high resolve)
It is the longest epic of its kind in history, consisting of 23,000 pages. The events extend over the continental wars which raged with the advent of Islam and continued for four centuries.
The most important of his novels are:
"The Sorrows of Noah"
"Blood of Jacob's Son"
"Death and Frivolity",
"Laughter and Ugliness"
"Beirut"
"Tears at Night".
Famous plays of the author are:
"Shafika and Metwali"
"King Maarouf"
"Sales"
"The Human Zoo"
"Semiramis"
"Cheops and the Nobles"
"An Old King and Other tragedies"
"Hassan and Naima".
Some of these plays were translated
into English.
