Hafez and Shawqi - Taha Hussein

The 20th century marked the beginning of a major literary renaissance, of which poetry was one of the most prominent features. Two Egyptian poets spearheaded this renaissance: Ahmed Shawqi, who became the Prince of Poets, and Hafez Ibrahim, who achieved a distinguished position among the poets of his era, earning him the title "Poet of the Nile." Both poets revived Arabic poetry, restoring its vigor and freshness. Taha Hussein undertook the task of critically evaluating their poetry, placing it in its rightful position. Despite his strained relationship with Ahmed Shawqi, he strived for neutrality and fairness, resulting in a book that offered an honest critique of these two luminaries of Arabic literature. He meticulously identified their errors, without diminishing their stature and role in Arabic poetry.