Abu Rayya’s novel “The Lover” was our book club selection for June 2007.
Find more information on our June 2007 selection book
Youssef Mohamed Shehata Abu Rayya - Yusuf Abu Rayya (1955 - 12 January 2009) was an Egyptian author. He was born in 1955 in Hihya in the Sharqiya Governorate, and studied journalism at Cairo University where he received his degree in journalism and mass communication from Cairo University in 1977. His first published book was a collection of short stories in 1985, followed by his first novel in 1989. He wrote over a dozen books including novels, children's books and short story collections. His best known work is Wedding Night, published in 2002. This novel won the Naguib Mahfouz Medal, and an English translation by R Neil Hewison was published by the AUC Press in 2006.
Abu Rayya served on the governing board of the Egyptian branch of PEN International. He lent vocal support to the Syrian writer Haidar Haidar, who was the subject of a fatwa by clerics at Al-Azhar University in 2000.
He was a senior specialist at the National Research Center in Cairo.
Abu Rayya died of liver cancer in January 2009.
Publications
Short Story collections:
1. The high dawn (El Doha El Ali) 1985, Dar El Hoda, 2nd edition at Family Library 2000
2. "The reversed wind" (Aks El Rieh) 1987, Books Authority, 2nd edition at Family Library 2001
3. "The Dawn Beginning" (Wesh El Fagr) 1993, Books Authority, 2nd edition at Family Library 2002
4. "A song for the house" (Tarniemah Leldar) 1995, culture centers authority
5. "Fire drizzle" (Tal El Nar) 1997, culture centers authority,
6. "Blatancy of winter" (Shetaa El Ory) 2003, Merit publishing center
Novels:
1. "Cactus thirsting" (Atash El Sabar) 1982, Dar el Helal, 2nd edition at Family Library 1999
2. "love hill" (Tall El Hawa) 1999, Dar El Helal, 2nd edition at Family Library 2004
3. "White Island" (El Gezirah El Bidah) 2000, Culture highest council, 2nd edition at culture highest council 2002
4. "Wedding night" (Leila Orse) 2002, Dar el Helal, 2nd edition at Family Library 2003
5- "ashek elhay" (The Lover) in 2006 dar elhelal
6- " samt eltwaheen" (Silence of the Mills) Dar Eleaen 2007
Publications for Children:
1. "Children bread" (Kobs El Segar) 1988, the Arabic boy publishing center
2. "Circus Lion" (Asaad El Circ) 1989, the Arabic boy publishing center
3. "Words childhood" (Tefolat El Kalemat) 1995, culture centers authority
4. "Last days of a Lamb" (El Ayam El Akiera of El Hamal) novel, Hopo Pokas Center, 1998
5- Maghamarat Marco Polo (The Adventures of Marco Polo), which appeared in 2005.
6-"Thus things spoke" (Takalamat El Ashiaa), children's stories
7-"Small field" (Hakl Sagier), children's stories
8- "Antarah dreams" (Alam Antara), children's novel
Some of his works were translated into English :
1. The first in 1978, Cornet Box Center, translated by Denys Johnson-Davies.
2. The second in 2000, American University, New York, translated by Denys Johnson-Davies.
3. wedding night in 2006 - AUC press, translated by Neil Hewison.
Some of his works were translated into German :
1. The first in 1989, selections of the Egyptian short stories, Dories Class
2. the second in 1991, translated by Hartmut Fndrich.
A Jordanian researcher registered his Master research about the collection of his works, issued in Oman under the name of "Children in Youssef Abu Raya's novels"
Menia University held a special festival for his works in March 200 and issued a book under the name ""The novel and literature works of Youssef Abu Raya"
