Surrealistic elements in Idwār al-Kharrāt’s City of Saffron

Abstract EN

The influence of surrealism and the surrealistic methods of reaching subconscious were widely used in literature.

The first attempt to bring surrealism to Egypt was in the 1930-40s ; but later in the 1960s surrealistic elements were more widely applied by the writers of the New Sensibility.

The best example is Idwār al-Kharrāṭ ; he first became interested in surrealism during his detention in the 1940s.

Later reality became one of the most important subjects of his works.

His novels are distinguished by a unique style created by the merging realities and dream-like images coming from the narrator’s unconscious.

A very good example of al-Kharrāt’s special narrative style is City of Saffron in which the narrator remembers his childhood and youth using some surrealistic techniques–analogical thinking, child’s imaginations and dreams.

The narration of events is not linear ; realistic descriptions of the events are followed by dream-like almost hallucinatory episodes and through them the author gives a wonderful image of Alexandria.