Ihsan Abd al-Quddus

1918 - 1990

Egyptian journalist, novelist, and short-story writer.

Abd al-Quddus began his literary career as an editor and writer for the leading Egyptian weekly Ruz al-Yusuf, which was founded in 1925 by his mother, Fatima al-Yusuf, a former actress. These writings made him well known throughout the Arab world. In the 1960s and 1970s, he was the editor of the newspapers Akhbar al-Yawm and the influential alAhram. In his column, "At a Cafe on Politics Street," he created fictional dialogues between customers at a cafe to discuss contemporary issues.

Abd al-Quddus wrote more than sixty novels and collections of short stories, many of which were made into films. His works of Arabic literature were characterized by psychological studies of political and social behavior. Among his works translated into English are I Am Free, The Bus Thief, and A Boy's Best Friend.

— DAVID WALDNER