Bashir Khrayyef (; April 10, 1917 – December 17, 1983) was a Tunisian writer, considered "the father of the realist novel in Tunisia." He is known for his harshly realistic descriptions of Tunisian society as well as for his use of Tunisian Arabic in the dialogues of his novels.
Early life and education
Khrayyef was born on April 10, 1917, in Nefta, government of Tozeur in southwest Tunisia. He came from a literary family; his brother was the poet Mustafa Khrayyef.
Writing career
Khrayyef's most famous historical novel, ("Night Lightning," 1961) is set in Tunis during 16th-century Hafsid rule. The novel treats the topics of slavery and racism through the love story of the protagonist, a black slave.
Arguably his most influential novel, ("Dates in their Branches," 1969), is set in an oasis community in the southwest desert of Tunisia in the 1910s–1930s. The remoteness of the community is emphasized through the use of a local dialect of Tunisian Arabic. The book also articulates the relationship between the Tunisian labor movement and the later independence movement.
His final novel, ("Your Love is Maddening," 1980) recounts an impossible love between a man and a prostitute.
Bibliography
Novels
(1961) Barq al-layl ( (Night lightning)) (1969) al-Digla fī ‘arājīnihā ( (A date in its cluster)) (1980) ( (Your love is maddening)), written in 1958
Short story collections
(1975) Mashmūm al-Full ( (Jasmine bouquet)), included the stories "Khalīfat al-ʼaqraʻ" and "Maḥfaẓa al-samār" ( (The woven wallet)), previously published in the magazine al-Fikr in 1965 and 1970
Other Stories
Nokhal Baya (1936) Lilet loutya (1937) Hobbek derbani (1959) Ballara (1992)