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The Diaries of Waguih Ghali: An Egyptian Writer in the Swinging Sixties Volume 2: 1966--68
In 1968 Egyptian novelist and political exile Waguih Ghali committed suicide in the London flat of his editor, friend, and sometime lover, Diana Athill. Ghali left behind six notebooks of diaries that for decades were largely inaccessible to the public. An Egyptian in the Swinging Sixties is the first publication of its kind of the journals, casting fascinating light on a likeable and highly enigmatic literary personality.
Waguih Ghali (1930?-69), author of the acclaimed novel Beer in the Snooker Club, was a libertine, sponger, and manic depressive, but also an extraordinary writer, a pacifist, and a savvy political commentator. Covering the last four years of his life, Ghali's Diaries offer an exciting glimpse into London's swinging sixties. Volume 2 of the Diaries covers the period from 1966 to 1968. Moving from West Germany to London and Israel, and back in memory to Egypt and Paris, the entries boast of endless drinking, countless love affairs, and of mingling with the dazzling intellectuals of London, but the Diaries also critique the sinister political circles of Jerusalem and Cairo, describe Ghali's trepidation at being the first Egyptian allowed into Israel after the 1967 War, and confess in detail the pain and difficulties of writing and exile.
Including an interview conducted by Deborah Starr, with Ghali's cousin, former director of UNICEF-Geneva, Samir Basta.
Waguih Ghali (1930?-69), author of the acclaimed novel Beer in the Snooker Club, was a libertine, sponger, and manic depressive, but also an extraordinary writer, a pacifist, and a savvy political commentator. Covering the last four years of his life, Ghali's Diaries offer an exciting glimpse into London's swinging sixties. Volume 2 of the Diaries covers the period from 1966 to 1968. Moving from West Germany to London and Israel, and back in memory to Egypt and Paris, the entries boast of endless drinking, countless love affairs, and of mingling with the dazzling intellectuals of London, but the Diaries also critique the sinister political circles of Jerusalem and Cairo, describe Ghali's trepidation at being the first Egyptian allowed into Israel after the 1967 War, and confess in detail the pain and difficulties of writing and exile.
Including an interview conducted by Deborah Starr, with Ghali's cousin, former director of UNICEF-Geneva, Samir Basta.
224 pages, Hardcover
Published August 1, 2017
About the author
Waguih Ghali
6 books160 followersNot much is known about Waguih Ghali. Ghali was born and raised in Cairo. His exact birth date is not known, but it is guessed he was born in the 1930’s to a upper class Coptic family in Egypt. Ghali’s family spoke English and French more than Arabic something he mirrors in his character Ram. When he was young, Ghali’s father passed away leaving Waguih behind as the poor relation to his mother’s rich family. Once he grew up he funneled his outrage at the poverty in Egypt towards the Communist party. As an adult Ghali left Egypt to study and work in Britain, France, Sweden and Germany.
“Beer in the Snooker Club” was his only novel which now appears to be an exaggerated dictation of his life. Waguih Ghali committed suicide in 1969. Much of his life in London and up until his death is described in "After a Funeral" by Diana Athill.
In "After a Funeral" Dianna Athill describes how she meet Waguih Ghali, whose alias in the novel is "Didi". According to Diana Athill, Waguih Ghali was a sweet and intelligent man. He was an Egyptian exile though and through that information she discovered a darker side to the talented writer. Ghali was an intense gambler, drinker, and womaniser. He committed suicide in the flat they shared in London. When he died he left behind a set of notebooks. In these notebooks Waguih Ghali wrote that his death was the "one authentic act of my life."
كاتب مصري، له رواية وحيدة هي بيرة في نادي البلياردو والتي كتبها أثناء إقامته في أوائل الستينيات بين برلين ولندن، ترك غالي بلده مصر في أوائل الستينيات وسافر إلى أوروبا ليعمل في وظائف غير مستقرة، منها عامل في مصانع ببرلين وعدد من الوظائف الأخرى، وهي الفترة التي بدأ فيها بكتابة روايته الأولى والوحيدة، كما عمل كمراسل صحفي وكتب تحقيقات لمجلة صنداي تايمز بناء على زيارته لإسرائيل في الستينيات، انتحر وجيه غالي في شقة الكاتبة الإنجليزية ديانا آتهيل عام ١٩٦٩
لوجيه غالي رواية وحيدة هي بيرة في نادي البلياردو والتي نُشرتْ عام ١٩٦٤ عن دار بينجوين الإنجليزية. ولا توجد معلومات حول إذا ما كان هنالك أي إنتاج أدبي آخر لوجيه غالي. وعادة ما يشار إليه كأول كاتب مصري تكون له مطبوعات بينجوين.
“Beer in the Snooker Club” was his only novel which now appears to be an exaggerated dictation of his life. Waguih Ghali committed suicide in 1969. Much of his life in London and up until his death is described in "After a Funeral" by Diana Athill.
In "After a Funeral" Dianna Athill describes how she meet Waguih Ghali, whose alias in the novel is "Didi". According to Diana Athill, Waguih Ghali was a sweet and intelligent man. He was an Egyptian exile though and through that information she discovered a darker side to the talented writer. Ghali was an intense gambler, drinker, and womaniser. He committed suicide in the flat they shared in London. When he died he left behind a set of notebooks. In these notebooks Waguih Ghali wrote that his death was the "one authentic act of my life."
كاتب مصري، له رواية وحيدة هي بيرة في نادي البلياردو والتي كتبها أثناء إقامته في أوائل الستينيات بين برلين ولندن، ترك غالي بلده مصر في أوائل الستينيات وسافر إلى أوروبا ليعمل في وظائف غير مستقرة، منها عامل في مصانع ببرلين وعدد من الوظائف الأخرى، وهي الفترة التي بدأ فيها بكتابة روايته الأولى والوحيدة، كما عمل كمراسل صحفي وكتب تحقيقات لمجلة صنداي تايمز بناء على زيارته لإسرائيل في الستينيات، انتحر وجيه غالي في شقة الكاتبة الإنجليزية ديانا آتهيل عام ١٩٦٩
لوجيه غالي رواية وحيدة هي بيرة في نادي البلياردو والتي نُشرتْ عام ١٩٦٤ عن دار بينجوين الإنجليزية. ولا توجد معلومات حول إذا ما كان هنالك أي إنتاج أدبي آخر لوجيه غالي. وعادة ما يشار إليه كأول كاتب مصري تكون له مطبوعات بينجوين.
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July 30, 2025
افضل حاجه هي الحوار اللي ف أول الكتاب مع ابن خالته بيحكي عن نفسه وعن علاقته ب وجيه
غير كده يستمر العك والسُكر والخواء والاكتئاب من الجزء الأول ف لا جديد ع طول ال ٥٠٠ صفحة اللي اكيد مقرأتهمش علشان الملل
وكتب ديونه ف الآخر علشان صاحبته تسددها ! وأنه هينتحر وهو سكران وخلاص كده!
غير كده يستمر العك والسُكر والخواء والاكتئاب من الجزء الأول ف لا جديد ع طول ال ٥٠٠ صفحة اللي اكيد مقرأتهمش علشان الملل
وكتب ديونه ف الآخر علشان صاحبته تسددها ! وأنه هينتحر وهو سكران وخلاص كده!
February 16, 2024
“I am going to try and be very objective.(about Israel) The trouble is, I have been absolutely conquered up to now...This feeling of having been conquered by the industry and building of Israel has now nearly utterly disappeared, and I am angry and feel that…the whole Israeli propaganda stinks with hypocrisy and lies”(pg128)
“I wish I had known Israel, as I do now, before having gone on my mission there. This is a cultureless, military, American-fawning, mercenary, gay alitient, mutiles this hated cendes country - or, to be quite right, highly efficient, ruthless, conscience-less country or, to be quite right, government. Zionism is this hard, smart, wise-cracking, confident, string-pulling, high-class prostitute. The high-heeled, American-senator-connect-ed, heartless, breast-padded, artificial eye-lash bearing, pink-light whore with a pack of gangsters living off her and protecting her-“(pg181)
“A word, an article, a hint of anything pro-American makes the blood suddenly rush to my face, my heart beats violently and I want to catch an American, anyone, and literally wring his neck.”(pg173)
😂Now more than ever Mr.Ghali, now more than ever.
“I wish I had known Israel, as I do now, before having gone on my mission there. This is a cultureless, military, American-fawning, mercenary, gay alitient, mutiles this hated cendes country - or, to be quite right, highly efficient, ruthless, conscience-less country or, to be quite right, government. Zionism is this hard, smart, wise-cracking, confident, string-pulling, high-class prostitute. The high-heeled, American-senator-connect-ed, heartless, breast-padded, artificial eye-lash bearing, pink-light whore with a pack of gangsters living off her and protecting her-“(pg181)
“A word, an article, a hint of anything pro-American makes the blood suddenly rush to my face, my heart beats violently and I want to catch an American, anyone, and literally wring his neck.”(pg173)
😂Now more than ever Mr.Ghali, now more than ever.
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February 19, 2023اليوم مات صديقي، أو ربما مات بالأمس.. لست أدري
الحياه قاسية وما يجعلها بهذه القسوة هو نحن
هناك علامة استفهام علي ديانا
اعتقد لم تنشر اليوميات لشعورها بالخزي امام نفسها
وجيه استنفذ نفسه ولم يقتنع بمحدودية الانسان
الانسان ضعيف ومتكبر.
لا انصح بقراءة اليوميات ليست بالممتعة اطلاقا علي الاقل بالنسبة لي.
مؤلمة جدا
الرواية فقط تستحق القراءة.
الحياه قاسية وما يجعلها بهذه القسوة هو نحن
هناك علامة استفهام علي ديانا
اعتقد لم تنشر اليوميات لشعورها بالخزي امام نفسها
وجيه استنفذ نفسه ولم يقتنع بمحدودية الانسان
الانسان ضعيف ومتكبر.
لا انصح بقراءة اليوميات ليست بالممتعة اطلاقا علي الاقل بالنسبة لي.
مؤلمة جدا
الرواية فقط تستحق القراءة.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews