Critical Perspectives on Yusuf Idris

Yusuf Idris is considered by many to be the greatest contemporary short-story writer working in Arabic. The 17 critical essays in this collection—some by critics in the Arab world and others by Western specialists on modern Arabic fiction and drama—are organized in sections devoted to Idris's short stories, novels, and plays. Each section includes studies that adopt a general perspective, as well as those that focus on particular works. The volume includes a biographical sketch of Idris and a comprehensive bibliography. An essay written by Idris himself in English describes in poignant detail the circumstances of his early life.