The Days

“It is difficult to overstate Taha Hussein’s contribution to the intellectual renaissance in Egypt during the 20th century… . His most striking and widely read work (outside the Arab world, at least) is his three-part autobiography The Days, with its vivid recreations of village and city life in Egypt.“—The Guardian

“One of the most important autobiographies in modern Arabic literature… . Told in a reflective third-person voice, the narrative blends intimate memory with sharp social observation, quietly critiquing poverty, superstition, and the limits of traditional learning.“—Fast Company (Middle East)

“I have read this beautiful book with great emotion. It breathes humanity and a deep fraternal sympathy that finds an immediate echo in my heart.“—André Gide, Nobel Laureate-winning author of The Immoralist

“No other work of modern Arabic literature is so familiar to readers in both the Arab world and the West.“—Fedwa Malti-Douglas, Indiana University

Taha Hussein (1889–1973) was one of the most influential Egyptian intellectuals of the twentieth century and a towering figure of educational reform in Egypt, best known through his voluminous, varied, and controversial writings. Blind from early childhood, he rose from humble beginnings to pursue a distinguished career in Egyptian public life, serving as academic advisor to the Minister of Education and then as Minister of Education (1950–1952). A leading figure of the Arab Renaissance (Nahda) and the modernist movement in the Arab world, he was unofficially known as “The Dean of Arabic Letters.”

This item is eligible for free returns within 30 days of delivery. See our returns policy for further details.