The diary narrative in Tawfiq al-Hakim’s novella “Diary of a Country Prosecutor”

the article analyzes the composition of the novella by the Egyptian writer Tawfiq al-Hakim “Diary of a Country Prosecutor”. Arab critics associate al-Hakim with the era of “National Renaissance,” whose representatives felt the need to seek new forms distinguished by national content. In the novella, the plot begins with the announcement of a murder that the investigator, the narrator of the diary, undertakes to solve in chronological order. The investigation of one crime becomes a pretext to portray peasants and their harsh lives or to discuss the author’s colleagues – judges, officials, investigators, etc. The article focuses on the diary within the historical and cultural context of the novella. The chronologicity, datability, dialogicity, and evaluative features of the diary narrative are highlighted. The article also observes the structure of the events, retrospection, and portrait descriptions. The composition uses parallel structures (the investigator’s relationships with his assistant, prosecutor, and district head, among others). The diary becomes a chronicle of truthful yet tragic depictions of Egyptian society, which suppresses individuality and generates numerous human tragedies. The assessment of public life events is marked by impartiality and objectivity.

Arabic literature, Egyptian writer, novella, diary narrative, historical and cultural context, issues