Albert Cossery

Author profile

About this author

Albert Cossery (November 3, 1913 – June 22, 2008) was an Egyptian-born French writer of Greek Orthodox Syrian and Lebanese descent, born in Cairo.

Son of small property owners in Cairo, at the age of 17, inspired by reading Honoré de Balzac, Albert Cossery ( Arabic: البرت قصيري) emigrated to Paris. He came there to continue his studies which he never did devote himself to, writing and settled permanently in the French capital in 1945, where he lived until his death in 2008.

In 60 years he only wrote eight novels, in accordance with his philosophy of life in which "laziness" is not a vice but a form of contemplation and meditation. In his own words: "So much beauty in the world, so few eyes to see it." At the age of 27 he published his first b...more

combine editions
Books by Albert Cossery

Average rating: 3.98 · 317 ratings · 63 reviews · 16 distinct works

	The Jokers by Albert Cossery, Anna Moschovakis (Translator), James Buchan (Introduction) 3.79 avg rating — 95 ratings — published 1981 — 8 editions	My rating:
	A Splendid Conspiracy by Albert Cossery, Alyson Waters (Editor) 4.04 avg rating — 49 ratings — published 2010 — 3 editions	My rating:
	Mendiants Et Orgueilleux 4.05 avg rating — 44 ratings — published 1981 — 8 editions	My rating:
	The Colors of Infamy by Albert Cossery, Alyson Waters (Translator) 4.14 avg rating — 28 ratings — published 2000 — 4 editions	My rating:
	Les Fainéants dans la vallée fertile 4.00 avg rating — 24 ratings — published 1977 — 4 editions	My rating:
	Men God Forgot by Albert Cossery, H.E. (Translator) 4.22 avg rating — 27 ratings — published 1963 — 8 editions	My rating:
	Proud Beggars by Albert Cossery, Thomas W. Cushing 3.69 avg rating — 16 ratings — published 2011 — 2 editions	My rating:
	La Maison De La Mort Certaine: Roman 3.78 avg rating — 18 ratings — published 1945 — 3 editions	My rating:
	Une Ambition Dans Le De&#X301;Sert: Roman 4.43 avg rating — 7 ratings — published 1984 — 3 editions	My rating:
	A Violência e o Escárnio 4.25 avg rating — 4 ratings — published 1999	My rating:

More books by Albert Cossery…

Upcoming Events

No scheduled events. Add an event.

Quotes by Albert Cossery

“A rua exprimia a perturbadora angústia de uma colectividade; não era um indivíduo orgulhoso a gabar-se da sua história. Era humana e grande na sua aflição por gritar a dor de toda uma multidão. E Sayed Karam assistia impotente a este grito dos homens através da matéria.”
― Albert Cossery, Men God Forgot

1 person liked it

Topics Mentioning This Author

topics	posts	views	last activity
NYRB Classics: Jan/Feb Book Club picks	14	46	Jan 10, 2012 02:39pm

Is this you? Let us know. If not, help out and invite Albert to Goodreads.