A Prominent Novelist, Journalist and Statesman
Youssef El-Sebai is a renowned Egyptian writer who was born into a household of literary orientation. His father, an innovative writer, played a leading role in the modern literary movement in Egypt. Besides his god-given talent, Youssef inherited a craving for literature.
El-Sebai's family lived in the popular quarter of Sayyeda Zeinab in Cairo, Egypt, where lived poor working class. The influence and spirit of this place can be traced in most of his writings.
Born on June 10, 1917, El-Sebai spent his childhood contemplating the life of his class. His talent for literary composition showed at an early age. The high-school-student Sebai published his first piece of writing in Al-Megala (aka The Magazine) magazine in 1933.
After his graduation from the Military Academy in 1973, El-Sebai set out his career in the armed forces. He took up several military posts as he taught at the Military Academy. He ended up his military career in 1952 as Director of the Military Museum.
Career:
• Secretary-General of the Supreme Council for Arts and Secretary - General of the Afro- Asian, in 1959.
• 1965, Editor -in Chief, Akhar Sa’ah magazine, Chairman of Dar Al - Hilal House Board of Directors. (1971).
• In March, 1973 Minister of Culture.
• 1976, Chairman of the Board of Directors, Al - Ahram press Organization.
• 1977, elected Head of Egyptian Press Syndicate.
Since 1951, Youssef El-Sebai has played an effective role in literary life. Starting with his endeavors, together with reputed novelist and journalist Ihsan Abdel- Qoddous to found the novelists club, Men of letters Association and later Arab Writers Union. Under his supervision, several magazines were founded including:
o Al- Odaba’ Al-Arab( Arab Men of Letters)
o Al - Risala Al - Gadida (New Risala "Message")
o AL- Zohour ( Flowers)
o Al - Thaqafa (Culture)
o Al- Qissa(Novel)
o Lotus
o Selections of Afro - Asian Short Stories
o Selections of Afro - Asian Short Poetry
Works
1. Na'aeb Azrael (1947) …aka Deputy of Azrael (Angel of Death)
2. Ya Ummatun Dahekat (1948) Oh nation that laughed
3. Ard al Nefaq (1949) …aka Land of Hypocrisy
4. Inni rahela (1950) …aka Tragic Departure
5. Umm Ratiba (1951) aka Mother of Ratiba
6. Bain Abu Reesh and Geminate Nameesh (1950) …aka Between Abu Reesh and Garden of Nameesh (1950)
7. Saqqa mat (1952) ... aka Water-Carrier Is Dead
8. Al Sheikh Zaarab &Others (1952)
9. Fadytak Ya Lail (1953) …aka Rescued Night
10. Al Bahth 'An Jassad (1953) … aka In Pursuit of Flesh
11. Bain El Atlal (1959) ... aka Among the Ruins (1959).
12. Rudda kalbi (1954) ... aka Back Again
13. Tareek al 'Awda (1956) … aka The Way Back
14. Nadia (1960)
15. Jaffat Al Domo'a (1962) …aka Tears Gone
16. Lail Leh Aakher (1963) … aka Nigh With An End
17. Aqwa Min El Zaman (1965) … aka Stronger Than Time
18. Nahnu La Nazra'a Al Shawk (1969) …aka We Plant Not Thorns
19. Lasta Wahdak (1970) …aka You Are Not Alone
20. Ebtsama 'Ala Shafatik (1971) …aka A Smile On His Lips
21. Al 'Aomr Lahza (1973) …aka Life But A Moment
22. Attiaf (1947) …aka Glimpses
23. Ethnata 'Asrata Emra'a (1948) …aka Twelve Women
24. Khabaya Al Sodour (1948) …aka Secrets of Heart
25. Ethna 'Asr Rajol (1949) …aka Twelve Men
26. Fi Mawkeb Al Hawa (1949) …aka Parade of Love
27. Min Al 'Alam Al Majhoul (1949) …aka From The Unknown World
28. .Hazehi Al Nefous (1950) …aka These Souls
29. Mabka Al 'Aoshaq …aka Wailing Hub of Lovers
30. El Lekaa El Tani (1967) …aka The Second Meeting
31. El Naser Salah el Dine (1963) ... aka Salladin the Victorio
32. Sharia El Houb (1959)) ... aka The Street of Love
33. Akhlak lel beia (1951) ... aka Virtue for Sale
Travels
By virtue of his political and press positions, as El-Sebai traveled far and wide around the world. His experiences and impressions were vividly reflected in his writings
The Palestine Question in El-Sebai Novels El-Sebai had a profound interest in the Palestine Question. He wrote more than one story and Novel on the tragedy of the Palestinians. In the "The Way Back". He urged Palestinians to stick to their land. In "A Smile On His Lips", the concepts of Arab Israeli-Arab conflict are more maturely expressed. Rather than merely a question of usurped land, the Palestine issue was reflected as a conflict of civilization, where the destiny of the Arabs was in Jeopardy. Awards
• Order of Merit of the first class, United Arab Republic 1962.
• Order of Merit of the Grand Knight class, Italian Republic, 1963.
• Order of Lemin, Former -Soviet Union,1970
• Order of the Republic, Arab Republic of Egypt, 1975.
• He was awarded the state Merit prize for a literature, when he was Minister of Culture, but he declined the prize as the Arts and Letters Council, who awarded the prize was an affiliate of his ministry.
• He was awarded the "Necklace of the Republic" on the very date of his martyrdom, February 18,1978.
Death
After late President Sadat of Egypt had visited Jerusalem, El-Sebai stressed in his writings on the right of the Palestinian people to self-determination and statehood.
However, he was assassinated in February 18, 1978 by an extremist Palestinian group in Nicosia, Cyprus, where he was attending a conference dedicated to peace and security for the nations of the world.
Egypt State Information Service
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