A Discussion with “ Ghalya al saeid ” in the Space of Her Fictional World
Abdl Razzk Al-Rubaei
Translated by: Asma Hamed al-Masruri
Introduction of: Three-Dimensional Astonishment
Through six novels and many of short stories, Omani writer Al Syyida Dr. Ghalya.f.t. al saeid delt with many problems suffered by those who live in a margin of big cities, spending their day ruminating on their illusions in societies whose members have been dominated by materialism, in which man is no longer nothing but a number, from here, comes her attempts at salvation, gets justice, arrives to build better future, and dreams be a bright-open window to this future which still far-fetched. This dreamer characters who designthe writer’s world,whose experience represents a clear sign in feminist writing in Oman, using many of aesthetic techniques such as, using a poetry, different narration methods, and visual arts. These techniques become performing common denominators in her writing which started with novel (Days in the Heaven) 2005, about the life of an Arabic young man who live in London, who was dazzled by the life, so he joined into number of relations with women who were tricked by his personality. Continue with (Saberah and Aseela) 2007, which brought her readers back to Oman in the sixties through the story of a girl who has long suffered from injustice and oppression in a conservative society ruled by traditions and inherited norms. Then, (Scattered Years) 2008, (Mad Despair) 2011, (Boredom Waiting) which is in two parts. Published by (Riad Al Rayyes) for Beiruti Books and Publishing. Finally, (Village of The Blind) which is about Oman in the seventies by others’ eye. She also published many short stories in Arab literary magazines like: (From the Airport) which is published later with fifty short stories by an Arabic writer in al Arabi book in 2007-2008. She contributed to a book about the Arabs in the diaspora edited by Zahiya Ismail Salhi and Ian Richard Newton. In addition to other participants such: her participation in Conference of British Society for Middle Eastern Studies in Leads on July 2008 which was about mapping the diaspora in the Middle East and North Africa. Her writings were studied by number of Omani and Arab critics. The researcher Wafa. B. S. al-Shuqsi chose her novels (Scattered Years) and (Mad Despair) to get master’s degree in Arabic Language and its Literature, in a field of Literary criticism in Nizwa University. Her master’s thesis was titled “the character in al Syyida Ghalya’s novels scattered years and mad despair: an analytical descriptive study.”. Dr. Aisha al-darmaki presented a paper on a topic about discourse and its changes, art and its limits, and self-concept in relation to narrative identity in Sharjah Narrative Forum 13, under the auspices of the Department of Culture and Information in Sharjah.
Besides many of critical studies which had been written in Arabic newspaper and magazine about her writings.
The many years she lived outside of Oman in the United Kingdom, to study in her schools and universities, which culminated in her PhD in International Relations from Warwick University, was reflected in her fictional writings, so she discussed the interaction of the civilizational relationship between East and West through human relations. Dr. Ghalya does not stop writing, beside practicing many exercises inside and outside Oman because she is a member of The Royal Institute for International Studies in Chatham House, London. She also participated in number of conferences in London School of Oriental and African Studies, and Leeds University organized by British Society for Middle Eastern studies. She established (Ghalya’s Museum of Modern Art) located near the Muttrah Fort. It is concerned with holding art exhibitions and scientific seminars, and is concerned with the Omani heritage of mankind related to his environment and his discerning society.
This book which is totally depend on what is come above, is trying to get close to the writer’s world, and should to know that its idea comes from a suggestion by greater poet Saif al-Rahbi to make a record about Dr. Ghalya’s novelist world, and assigned me to do it, that is what make me researching in a details of this world. It was must be doing a conversation with her, but it continued and flowed from the pages of the record. So, it came to my mind that publish it in specific book with number of articles by some critics and academic talks about some of her novelist experience. In addition to point to some critical writings about this experience may will find its way to publish in other book. Some of these writings such: “The Ugliness and Beauty in Ghalya Al Said’s Novels” by Asia Albu Ali. She has also, another study titled “Different Approaches to the Feminist Narrative in the Gulf, Ghalya Al Said’s novels (Days in the Heaven) and (Saberah and Aseela)”, “The Game of Masculinity and Femininity in the Novels of Ghalya Al Said” by critic Ibrahim Mahmood, “Days in the Heaven” by Ibrahim Darwish, “People who Under London” by Adil Maqdisi, “Saberah and Aseela” by Wadhha albusaidi, “From Myth to Reality – Perusal in the Omani Novel” by mohammed bin mohammed and “The Woman’s Body in the Representation of the Glorious and the Bet” by khalid al-Rifai. Furthermore, other writings about her experience that she kept working quietly on it far away from hustle in cultural circlesleaving readers, critics, analysis, examination, and judgments, content with the joy of narration.
