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An Ode to the Motherland: International Authors who Wrote About Egypt

March 1, 2023
Boat on the river Nile, Egypt | Credit: Vincent Fourneau

Many have written about Egypt: an epicenter of culture, art, and history. A land where the Nile refracts every sunrise and sunset, a land every corner of which is dotted with heritage, and whose people are ever warm. Egypt has been home to an array of authors and poets who have sung and spoken of its beauty. The country has birthed icons whose poetry still lingers to this day, such as Abdelrahman El Abnoudi, Ahmed Fouad Negm, Salah Jahin, Ahmed Shawky, Aisha Taymur, Gamila El-Alaily, and many more. These Egyptian poets have sung and spoken about important issues, such as the revolution as well as defying societal expectations and societal criticism. But the resonance of Egypt has not only been appreciated and written about by local poets. International poets and authors who were only familiar to Egypt through research and visits also took to verse to express their fascination with the Nile’s gift. In his poem ‘Along the Nile’ (1885), American author Henry Abbey sings about the jewel of Egypt—the Nile River—and its beauty. Abbey, a respected literary figure, is known for his simply-worded work and anecdote-filled poems. British poet…


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