Prof. Dr. Izzeldin Ismail
Born on January 29, 1929, in Cairo.
Obtained a Bachelor's degree in Arabic language from Fuad I University (currently Cairo University) and graduated in 1951.
Obtained a Master's and Ph.D. in Arabic literature from Ain Shams University.
Progressed from the position of a teaching assistant in the Department of Arabic Language and Literature until he was appointed as a professor at the Faculty of Arts, Ain Shams University.
Advanced in academic positions until he was appointed the dean of the same university's college from 1980 to 1982.
Served as the Director of the Arab Cultural Center in Bon, Germany from 1964 to 1965.
He held several prestigious cultural positions, including:
Chairman of the Board of the Egyptian General Authority for Books from 1982 to 1985
Secretary-General of the Supreme Council of Culture in 1984
President of the Academy of Arts from 1985 to 1989
Rapporteur of the Committee for Literary and Linguistic Studies
Member of the Supreme Council of Culture
Member of Specialized National Councils
Served as a professor at various Arab universities in Lebanon, Sudan, Morocco, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, and others.
Served as member of the judging panels for several Arab literary awards, including the Sultan Al-Owais and Abdulaziz Saud Al-Babtain Awards
Served as member of the advisory board for “Albabtain Encyclopedia of Arab Poets in the 19th and 20th Centuries” in 1997
Was a member of the Board of Trustees of Abdulaziz Saud Albabtain Prize for Poetic Creativity from 1998 until his death
He has numerous publications, including:
Aesthetic Foundations in Arab Criticism: Presentation, Interpretation, and Comparison
Human Issues in Contemporary Theatrical Literature
Authored “Trial of an Unknown Man (poetic play)”
Literature and Arts: Study and Critique
The Arab Folk Heritage in Lexicons
Author of “Psychological Interpretation of Literature”
Author of “Masterpieces of Arab Literature”
Author of “Zubayr Pasha and His Role in Sudan during the Egyptian Rule”
Author of “Contemporary Arabic Poetry: Its Issues and Artistic and Moral Phenomena”
National Poetry in Sudan
Author of “Contemporary Poetry in Yemen: Vision and Art”
Poetry as a Civilizational Value
Author of “Art and Human”
Author of “Sudanese Folk Stories: A Study of Rhetoric and Function”
Co-authored “Arabic Language with an Introduction to a Study Programme for Virtual-Learning University Students”
Authored “Literary and Linguistic Sources in Arab Heritage”
Authored “The Bewildered Sultan's Opera: Adapted from a Play by Tawfiq al-Hakim”
Co-authored “Hayy ibn Yaqzan and Robinson Crusoe: A Comparative Study”
Authored “Twenty Days in Nubia”
Authored “In Abbasid Poetry: Vision and Art”
Authored “Human Issues in Contemporary Theatrical Literature: A Comparative Study”
Authored “Quranic Texts in Human Soul”
Co-authored “Book of Rhetoric and Critique.
Co-authored “Rhetoric”
Co-authored “Tragedy of the Contemporary Human in the Poetry of Abdulwahab al-Bayati”
Radia, About the Nubian Tale (by Ibrahim Shuaer, with a foreword by Izzeldin Ismail)
Stories from Egypt (by Soheir al-Qalamawi, critic: Izzeldin Ismail)
"The Ship and Baulvet," written by Yuri Karimov, translated by Izzeldin Ismail
"Journey to India," (written by A.M. Forster, translated by Izzeldin Ismail)
Translated "Introduction to Discourse Theory" by Daiane McConell
Translated "Reception Theory" by Robert Holub
Among his Achievements:
He founded the journal "Fosool" in 1980 and chaired its editorial board until 1991. Every researcher in the Arab world benefited from it within the framework of academic research, as it enabled the transfer of Arab criticism to the horizons of global modernity in terms of theorization and application. Consequently, it paved the way for a constellation of modernist critics who achieved a prominent position in the world of contemporary criticism.
He established the “Association for Literary Criticism” in 1988, which was an extension of the Egyptian Literary Association founded in 1952. Prominent members of the association included Izzeldin Ismail, Farouk Khourshid, Salah Abdulsabour, Abdulrahman Fahmi, Ahmed Kamal Zaki, Abdulghaffar Mikkawi, and Hussein Nassar. The Egyptian Association for Criticism continues to engage in critical and cultural activities.
His practical efforts were also embodied in organizing a periodic conference on criticism under the sponsorship of Ain Shams University. Four sessions were held, with the latest one titled "Rhetoric and Rhetorical Studies."
He founded the magazines "Ebda’a" in 1983, "Alam Al-Kutub" in 1984, and "Al-Qahira" in 1985.
He established the International Children's Book Fair in Cairo in 1984.
He founded the Permanent Book Fair at the General Egyptian Book Organization in 1984.
Among his Studies and Articles:
Works about Ali Ahmed Bakathir.
Introduction to the play "The Worm and the Snake" 1967
“Critical Studies in Poetry, Theater, and Story”, republished in a book in 1978 - Beirut - Al-Arabi - Dar Al-Raed
Article on: “Bakathir's Poetic Theater,” Al-Masrah magazine - issues 1970 - Dar Al-Fikr, republished in the book "Bakathir's Poetic Theater - Criticism Studies Series” - Cairo 1426 AH / 2005.
Human Issues in Contemporary Theatrical Literature: Oedipus in Bakathir's Work”, a chapter in the book “Al-Qahira” - Al-Arabi - Dar Al-Fikr
The play "Shahrzad": a chapter in the book "Psychological Interpretation of Literature" - Gharib Library.
Among his Poetic Collections and Theatrical Plays:
"The Trial of an Unknown Man" - A poetic play
" The Bewildered Sultan's Opera" - A poetic play adapted from Tawfiq al-Hakim's play "The Bewildered Sultan."
Poetic Collection entitled “Tears for Grief - Tears for Joy” - in 2000.
As for his last collection, "Annotations in the Heart," its words were farewell expressions broadcasted by Izzeldin Ismail in the realm of poetry and poets, hoping they would serve as guiding beacons for creators here and there. This collection was published on the night of his death.
Decorations he received:
He was awarded the Order of Sciences and Arts, First Class, in the year 1990.
Awards he received:
Appreciation State Award in Egypt in the year 1985.
King Faisal International Award in the year 2000.
Mubarak Award in Literature from the Supreme Council of Culture in the year 2007.