[THREE "MAKTABAT AL-ÂDÂB" EDITIONS TOGETHER BY ONE OF THE PIONEERS OF THE MODERN ARAB DRAMA AND NOVEL] Laylat al-Zifâf - Himârî qâla lî - Al-ahâdith al-arba'a wa al-qadaya al-diniyya allatî atharaha

a.

ليلة الزفاف / Laylat al-Zifâf [i.e., The wedding night].

AL-HAKIM, TAWFIK (1898-1987).

Maktabat al-Âdâb, Cairo, 1976.

Original wrappers. Cr. 8vo. (20 x 14 cm). In Arabic. 183 p. Pages are not opened and trimmed, with slight dust stains on the rear and front covers. Otherwise, a very good copy.

One of the early Arabic editions of the book, the first edition, published in 1966 by the same publisher. The book consists of 11 stories reflecting Arab society.

OCLC (1158704222 & 29606062).

b.

حماري قال لي / Himârî qâla lî [i.e., My donkey told me].

AL-HAKIM, TAWFIK (1898-1987).

Maktabat al-Âdâb, Cairo, 1982.

Original wrappers. Cr. 8vo. (20 x 14 cm). In Arabic. 175, [1] p. Pages are not opened and trimmed, a very good copy.

A late edition in Arabic, of this satirical and philosophical work. The first edition was published in 1945. The book uses a sentient donkey as an allegorical device to comment on society, human nature, and philosophy, blending autobiography with imaginative fiction.

OCLC (404163123).

c.

الاحاديث الاربعة و القضايا الدينية التي أثارها / Al-ahâdith al-arba'a wa al-qadaya al-diniyya allatî atharaha [i.e., The four soliloquies].

AL-HAKIM, TAWFIK (1898-1987).

Maktabat al-Âdâb, Cairo, [c. 1983].

Original wrappers bilingual in English and Arabic. Demy 8vo. (20,5 x 16 cm). 176 p. Slight foxing on covers. Otherwise, a very good copy.

The early Cairo edition of this book consisting of a collection of four meditative "hadiths" or monologues that reflect the author's deep engagement with existential, theological, and social issues. These soliloquies reflect al-Hakim's belief in the emptiness of life and the alienation of individuals, a common theme in his later works.

OCLC (1158759706).

Tawfiq al‑Hakim (1898-1987) was an Egyptian writer, playwright, and one of the most influential pioneers of modern Arabic literature and drama. Born in Alexandria, he studied law in Cairo and Paris but turned to writing, becoming a central figure in the development of 20th‑century Egyptian theatre and the Arabic novel. Al‑Hakim's early works, such as The People of the Cave, helped establish a "theatre of ideas" rooted in literary prose and philosophical dialogue, and he continued to experiment with language and form throughout his career. Notably, his 1962 play The Tree Climber is often cited for its absurdist qualities, employing non‑realistic dialogue and situations that align with elements of the Theatre of the Absurd while remaining grounded in Arabic literary tradition. His body of work spans more than fifty plays, novels, essays, and short stories, and he occupies a foundational role in the canon of modern Arabic letters. (Encyclopedia Britannica).