The Egyptian author (and dentist) Alaa Al Aswany (also transcribed as El Aswany) is best known in the Western World for The Yacoubian Building (2002) which was produced as a film in 2006. The book was translated into English before it became available in French.
Al Aswany's Chicago (2007) was translated into French (2007) before it became available in English (in the UK in fall 2007). The book arrives in the US in October, as the Chicago Reader noted (February 18, 2008). Experiences in the book are possibly related to the author's three years residence in Chicago during the 1980s while studying at the University of Illinois Medical School.
Read Reviews:
Marie-Laure Delorme, "Alaa El Aswany, Guerre et peurs," Journal du Dimanche (October 16, 2007).
Stephanie Merritt, "An Author With Bite," The Observer (September 9, 2007).
John R. Bradley, "Chicago: A Modern Arabic Novel," Financial Times (February 16, 2008).
Doug Johnstone, "Chicago by Alaa Al Aswany," in the Times (August 30, 2008).
Mark Rubbo in Readings (Melbourne, Australia; September 2, 2008).
Ed King in the Telegraph (September 7, 2008).
Sameer Rahim in the TLS (September 12, 2008).
Other Links:
Interview with Al Aswany in Egypt Today (August 2004).
Interview with Al Aswany in National Geographic (September 2006).
Read a passage from the French translation of Chicago here.
Biographical information about Al Aswany from Evene.fr.
Interview with Al Aswany, with photos, from Evene.fr (October, 2007).
One blogger's unfavorable review here.