Gamal Z. Maqqar
EGYPT
Gamal Z. Maqqar was born in Suez in 1955. A few
years later, his family moved to El-Minia, a middle
Upper Egyptian governorate, where he spent his
childhood. These few years had a very deep impact on
him. Once more, the family had to move somewhere else,
this time to Cairo, where he is still living.
At the age of 18, he developed a deep interest in
literature and acting. His first collection of short stories entitled “Nature has no
Mercy on Miserable Creatures" was received with a storm of applause. In 1991,
Maqqar was granted the first prize for that very collection in Dr. So'ad AsSabbah's Contest, a most notable prize granted to short story writers in the Arab
world,
His second novel “Song of Blood”, won the first prize in the Egyptian
Supreme Council of Culture Contest in 1995.
Three years later, he was granted the State Award for his novel "The
Banished".
In 2007, he received the prize of Sawiris Foundation for Social Development
for his collection of short stories “The book of Childhood”.
The Banished
His novel “The Banished” portrays a very special type of Christian
through Nagy, the main character. He is a strange and strong man who
repents his sins and tries to gain salvation. He escapes from his master
to join a monastery.
The monastery council composed of the Superior Father and three
senior monks agree to keep him in the monastery as a consecrated
monk "A kind of a servant for monks, and also as an induction into
monkshood".
He accepts to stay on that condition to salvage his soul, consecrating
his enormous might to the service of monks and the monastery. However, they
viewed him suspiciously as a sinner with no hope for salvation. They rejected his
theory that the old well was drying up and they had to drill a new one. When the
Superior Father accepted his proposal of drilling a new well, they grumbled, "It
will be too far for us".
When his theory proved true, they found out his might is very dangerous.
They reduced his diet after convincing him that he must "kill your body to live
by soul".
After ten long years of toiling in the monastery, they finally accept to put
him before his long-standing and persisting question "when?". However, in a
very cunning way, the Superior Father says, "Tell me, Nagy. If your father is ill
and wants to see you, will you go to see him?"
"Of course, father," Nagy replied.
"But if I prevent you, will you insist?"
"The man wants to see me as his last wish."
"But God wants you. Shouldn't you know that the kingdom of God is
not from this world?"
"But, I should go and see him."
"You, Nagy, are as foolish as virgins. You should pray for God's
mercy. You have no place here in the monastery. Take your way in the
world. Go."
Written in a crisp, economical and poetic language, "The Banished" raises
many questions concerning freedom, salvation, might, and the relationship
between man and the world.
--------------------------------------------------------------------Other works for the author:
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"Ed-Dhaeifa Yakolha El-Qarad", collection of short stories, published
in 1990.
Song of Blood, a novel, published in 1993.
"At-Tareed", a novel published in 1996.
Changes of a Poor Fish, a collection of short stories, published in
1998.
A Horse, a novel published in 2003.
Book of Childhood, a collection of short stories published 2006.
The Book of the Meek, a novel in two parts, published in 2007.
According to the report by the Committee on Incentive State Award for
Literature, 1998, "The Banished, is a very daring and ambitious novel,
depicting a highly artistic adventure, trying to catch the drama
and fate of human beings.