Once Upon a Time - New Edition

Hachette Antoine, under the Naufal imprint, is proud to present the towering works of Mikhail Naimy, one of the most prominent contemporary Arab writers and a leading figure among Lebanese diaspora writers. His writing is distinguished by its attempts to purify Arabic literature of embellishment and superfluous language, striving instead for a more realistic portrayal of things and events. His style is characterized by simplicity, clarity, and frankness, and by its avoidance of pretension, particularly in description, narration, and imagery. His language sometimes borders on colloquial Arabic, which further draws readers from all walks of life to his books. These stories, from "The Barren Woman" to "Her New Year" and "The Bey's Happiness," among others, all take place in the homeland or in exile. They revolve around the afflictions, problems, and issues that arise from life, which the characters experience or confront, and which are local, reflecting their local lives from top to bottom. However, Naimy, the Austrian-born, Russian-style realist with a psychological and humanistic bent, is careful not to be a mere photographer in his art. Life operates only through vitality, and it works eternally from within outward. It leaves us no other place, nor does it keep us as mere spectators. Rather, it draws us into its intimate, all-knowing realm, allowing us to see through its eyes, feel its emotions, and suffer its struggles. We come to understand how, ultimately, each of us is a prisoner of our own inner being, grappling with problems we perceive as insurmountable, while in reality, they are born from within, and the key to their solution lies within us. Dar Hachit Antoine Publishing House, under its "Naufal" edition, is distinguished by its publication of the works of Mikhail Naimy, one of the most prominent contemporary Arab writers and a leading Lebanese expatriate author. His writings are characterized by his attempts to purify Arabic literature of embellishment and excessive language, striving instead to portray the true nature of things and events. His style is marked by simplicity, clarity, and candor, avoiding exaggeration, particularly in description, narration, and imagery. His language sometimes borders on colloquial Arabic, which further enhances the appeal of his books to readers of all ages.
These stories, from "The Barren Woman" to "Her New Year" and "The Joy of the Bey," among others, revolve around the homeland or exile. They address the pains, problems, and life issues faced and struggled by individuals who live and breathe the local culture.
However, Naimy, armed with that Russian realism imbued with psychological and humanistic values, is careful not to be merely a recorder of images in his art. Life, he believes, operates only through the living being, and it always works from the inside out. On the other hand, he doesn't leave us as mere observers, but rather takes us into the intimate inner world of his characters. We see through their eyes, feel their emotions, and suffer their pain. We realize how each of them is a prisoner of their inner makeup, grappling with problems they perceive as external, while inwardly they are brilliant, holding the key to their own solution. Hachette Antoine Publishing House, under the name "Naufal," is distinguished by publishing the works of Mikhail Naimy, one of the most prominent contemporary Arab writers and a leading Lebanese expatriate author. His writings are characterized by his attempts to purify Arabic literature of embellishment and excessive language, striving to portray the true nature of things and events. His style is marked by simplicity, clarity, and frankness, avoiding exaggeration, especially in description, narration, and imagery. His language sometimes sounds closer to colloquial Arabic, which increases the appeal of his books to readers of different ages.
These stories, from "The Barren Woman" to "Her New Year" and "The Bey's Joy," among others, revolve around the homeland or exile. They address the suffering, problems, and life issues faced and struggled by individuals who live and breathe the local culture.
However, Naimi, armed with that psychologically and humanistically oriented Russian realism, is careful not to be a mere photographic record in his art. Life, he believes, operates only through the living being, and it always works from the inside out. On the other hand, he doesn't leave us as mere observers, but rather takes us into the intimate inner world of his characters. We see through their eyes, feel their emotions, and suffer their suffering. We realize how each of them is ultimately a prisoner of their own inner structure, struggling with problems they perceive as external, while inwardly they are brilliant, and the key to their solution lies in their own hands.