SOURCE: Somekh, Sasson. “The Function of Sound in the Stories of Yusuf Idris.” Journal of Arabic Literature 16 (1985): 95-104.

In the following essay, Somekh considers acoustic and rhythmic elements of Idris's short stories.

I

During the last three decades, Yūsuf Idrīs (b. 1927) has established himself as a major figure in Arabic literature. He is first and foremost a writer of short stories, of which he has published twelve volumes between the years 1954-81.¹ The bulk of his work undoubtedly constitutes a landmark in modern Egyptian fiction; and the influence of his art is very much in evidence in the writings of younger Arab storytellers.

Regrettably, his works were for many years beyond the reach of readers who have no command of Arabic. It is therefore gratifying that in 1978 two volumes of his stories were published in English translation.² Furthermore, a scholarly work dealing with several aspects of...