Did Gamal Abdel Nasser Write Novel?

Friday marks the 102nd birth anniversary for Egyptian national figure and former president Gamal Abdel Nasser. On the occasion of his birth anniversary, here is the story of Nasser's novel which didn't complete.

"Fi Sabil El Horeya" was a novel the former president started to write during his school days. It focused on the incidents of Rashid Battle in 1807 which portrayed the dignity and the victory of the Egyptian people.

The first one who talked about this incomplete novel was renowned historian and critic Shaaban Youssef in his article "Incomplete Novel by Nasser" in 2011 published in the Rose Al Youssef magazine.

Youssef asserted that Nasser used very national discourse and his diction was full of enthusiasm. The novel also depicted that the former President had a strong awareness of the issues of his country at a young age.

Regarding the status of the novel, the critic mentioned that the Ministry of Culture launched a competition asking authors and writers to complete the novel.

The versions of author Abdel Rahman Fahmy, and Abdel Rahim Aagag won the first and the second prizes. Moreover, Aagag's version was set as part of the secondary schools' curriculum in 1970.

However, this novel was dropped from the curriculum after Nasser's death to be replaced with a book by former President Mohamed Anwar El Sadat called "Ya Waladi Haza Aa'mak Gamal."