ROMSO Cyprus Knowledge Base

Youssef Edris's novel "Al-Bayda" was published in 1970, despite the author stating in the preface that he wrote it between 1956 and 1958. At the time, Edris was 29 years old and had just graduated from medical school with a specialization in psychiatry. He was still practicing medicine at the time of writing, but stopped doing so in 1960 to focus on writing.

The novel deals with the issue of the East's desire to overcome the West, where the West was the colonizer and the source of suffering for the people of the East. Edris presents his protagonist as a young man who meets two women from the West and asks himself, as he often does when meeting a woman, "Can she accept me?"

"Al-Bayda" is ultimately a love story that can be felt by any reader or writer, and combines feelings of love with political, literary, or other types of work.

The novel was first printed in book form in Beirut in 1970 and later published in Egypt in 1990. In the preface to the Egyptian edition, Edris denied writing the novel as a way to exploit the crisis between Marxist intellectuals and the Nasser regime, which had arrested many of their leaders in 1959. Instead, he claimed to have written it in 1955.

The Preface

Edris begins his preface by discussing the history of writing the novel: "I have wronged this story (Al-Bayda) greatly, and unfortunately, the reason for its injustice is that it was actually ahead of the prevailing thought among left-wing intellectuals at the time, both globally and locally. I wrote it in 1956-58 and published a few editions, and now I am re-publishing it in a special edition of Hala's novels, so the difference is 34 years.

Today, Al-Bayda is no longer an early discovery of events and concepts that have become the norm. However, if we consider its temporal context, it may be possible to give it some justice.

It is a story of love, not just any love; a story of an era, not just any era; a story of politics, not just any politics; and the longest work I am proud of writing. It is a precious gem among my works that I cherish.

I dedicate this story to Marxist intellectuals in the Arab world today; as a slap against them, constantly oppressed by the forces of oppressive rule. Between me and publishing it, there was always fear that it would be another blow to the perpetually martyred Marxists.

I believe that publishing it now is not only necessary but also a reminder that there were people who thought ahead of their time long ago, before Khrushchev and perestroika, exactly as they did during Stalin's rule. This reminder has become an obligation - finally. I hope the reader will enjoy this work, which has become like fine wine, more valuable and expensive with age.

As for me, the writer Youssef Edris, I have invested in it a price that is sweeter than any year of my life, and until now, I have not regretted it."

Excerpts from the Novel

Edris wrote two lines in the novel: "I still remember that day as if it were today. I was wearing a gray coat that I had bought, the first coat I had ever worn, and I was in a hurry because the appointment had passed and minutes had gone by. Despite the cold winter breeze and the tight schedule, I began to ask myself those questions: Can one of them or both be suitable for me? Will one of them fall in love with me? Will I have a story with her? I asked myself these questions with full knowledge that they were not legitimate questions to ask.

The work we were doing was serious and dangerous, and there was no room for love or passion. We were in the midst of the struggle for independence, and our magazine was engaged in a fierce war to prepare the people for the battle. The battle against colonialism was ongoing everywhere: in Sudan, Egypt, Syria, and other Arab countries; in North Africa and Cyprus.

Our movement had members and supporters in every country..."