About Gaib Farman’s work

In the early 60s he continued his creative work. His works that were already published in the 1950s - short stories, journalism, literary articles, - were complemented by his works as a novelist, which ultimately determined his contribution to Arabic literature. We will mention only major works here.

Works of G. T. Farman in Arabic

Fiction

1st collection of stories Hasid Arrah (In the End Things Will Mend) consists of five short stories, published in As-Sakata magazine (Cairo) and other publications. Published in 1954 in Baghdad.

2nd collection of stories Maulud Ahar (The Second Child) - Baghdad, 1959.

Novels

1. An-Nahl val Jiran Beirut, 1966. The Palm Tree and The Neighbors

2. Hamsat Aswat Beirut, 1967. Five Voices

3. Al-Mahad, 1974. Birth Pangs

4. Al-Kurban, 1975. Victim

5. Zylal Ala-n-nafiza, 1979. Shadows in the Window

6. The Desired and Delayed September 1984.

7. The story of Alam al-Sayyid Maarouf, 1982. The Sufferings of Maarouf

Books

1. Iraq During the Black Regime Cairo, 1957. Russian translation. Moscow, 1958.

2. Lu Xin. Leader of the Cultural Revolution in China.

Works in Russian

The first publication of Farman's works in Russian appeared in 1958 in Moscow. It was a book published in Cairo in 1957 – Iraq During the Black Regime. Translated from Arabic by A. Albadri and L. Sapozhnikova. Foreign Literature publishing. 104 p, volume - 5.3 p.s.

The author's note contains the facts of the writer's biography during his life in Egypt in 1956, when he witnessed the struggle for independence. Special attention was given to the Soviet Union policy, which supported the Arabs and assisted them in the fight against the Baghdad Pact and the aggressors behind it, primarily the United States. The author showed that in Iraq, the US began to seize the position of England, that the US participation in the Baghdad Pact gave them great privileges and power. Accession to power of al-Ayyubi government contributed to the strengthening of US dominance and marked the beginning of a new stage of strengthening American influence on all aspects of life in Iraq, which had serious and dangerous consequences for the country.

The book by G.T. Farman was published by Dar al-Fikr and was dedicated to the history of the national liberation movement of the Iraqi people that covers the period between the World War I and modern history. It refers both to the treaties that the imperialists managed to impose on the Iraqi governments, and to those that were rejected by the people of Iraq as a result of a fierce struggle. The book ends with a description of the situation in the country after Iraq's entry into the infamous Baghdad Pact.

The author provides a realistic description of the battles that the liberation forces won, paying a high price for it. There were bloody events, and hundreds of people were tortured in prisons and concentration camps.

The author would not have been able to write such a true book if he had not taken part in those events, had not been a living witness to them, had not absorbed all the events of this struggle, which contributed to the personal development of him as a person. When terror and repression forced Farman to leave his homeland, he did not lose his spiritual connection with his country and his brothers-in-arms who stayed in Iraq. While in exile, far away from them, he contributed to the struggle by writing this book. I personally see it as an effort to mobilize public opinion in Egypt and other Arab countries in support of the glorious struggle of their fellow Iraqis.

Alongside with Iraq During the Black Regime, there are some more significant works such as Five Voices and Birth Pangs.

Five Voices

The novel is set in Iraq on the eve of the anti-imperialist revolution of 1958. In the author's note, readers are introduced to the political situation in the country, referring to the book Iraq During the Black Regime by G. Farman, that was translated into Russian and published in Moscow in 1958.

The reign of Fadil al-Jamali (since 1953), American influence; the government of Arshad al-Humari (1954) and new parliamentary elections, the actual rule of the elderly Iraqi dictator Nuri Said since 1930 (the Royal reign remains formal) - the author mentions these and other events, since this period of Iraq history is directly connected with what happens in the novel.

The government banned the national democratic party, which opposed Nuri Said, and its official newspaper al-Ahali (in the novel it is called al-Nas), denationalized many patriots, especially communists and expelled them from the country. In 1954, diplomatic ties with the USSR were cut; in 1955, the Baghdad Pact with Turkey was concluded. 3 more years of "Black Regime".

On July 14, 1958 there was a revolution and the country was declared a Republic. The author's note says that the United National Front was formed in the country, which included two of the most important political forces in Iraq: The Arab Socialist Baʽath Part and the Communist party); the right to autonomy for the Kurds was recognized (there is still a fierce struggle for it).

In the centre of the novel - stories of democratic intellectuals. Five voices belong to five young people, three of them work for the progressive newspaper "al-Nas" (people). The flood described in the novel is represented not only as a natural disaster. It is also associated with the fall of the anti-people regime of al-Jamili, hopes for the unity of the people and a better future. However, after the imitation of democracy the country suffers a brutal dictatorship. The newspaper is banned, its employees are waiting to be expelled.

The way the novel is structured resembles the polyphonium in music - each chapter correspond to a certain "voice". The characters of the novel speak and reveal themselves as if they do it without the intervention of the author. This technique allows the author to achieve great objectivity and psychological reliability of the narration.

Regarding the artistic component of the novel, particular attention should be given to the genuine description of the urban landscape, description of the streets and alleys of Baghdad, creating an image of this famous ancient city with its countless cafes, bookshops and other attractions.

Five Voices is the second Farman's book. Some Arab critics consider the previously published The Palm Tree and The Neighbors (Beirut, 1966) the first true Iraqi novel. The writer represented his life in Iraq during the World War II and the British occupation. In the new novel, he portrayed the dramatic events that took place in his country before the anti-monarchist revolution of 1958. Against the background of these events, five young Iraqi intellectuals live and work for an opposition left-wing newspaper that opposes the reactionary Jomali pre-imperialist government. According to critics, this novel is largely autobiographical.

As the Arabic press notes, the novel Five Voices has a very unusual composition. The novel consists of internal monologues of the main characters and is not divided into chapters. But not all critics consider the author's narrative form successful. However, in general, they highly appreciate Farman's new work, considering it as an important event in Arabic literature in general, and Iraq - in particular.

The first voice is represented by Said Ahmed and his character is a so-called autobiographical character. Some associations include:

Said is looking for “a house near a dye-house on a certain street with a carpenter's workshop on the corner”.

So when reading this description I imagine a small street leading to Gaib’s house on Murabba street, where his brother Ali's carpenter's workshop Silvana is located on the corner of the street. But surely Gaib thought of another workshop from his childhood, but also real and preserved in his memory.

Said is the author of a pamphlet, a journalist with a strong sense of duty. "No, he has to, he has to find her." It is about a woman who wrote a letter to the editor asking for help. And Said searches for this woman for a long time, not always successful. But he got the job done, though he sometimes was indecisive and doubtful of his rightness.

There are a lot of similarities in the approach to understanding the methods of artistic interpretation of reality. Said writes short stories. In his recently published book he expresses his firm belief that it is necessary for true intellectuals to study life in great details…

The character has a desire to "do something extraordinary, amazing.'' He didn't know exactly what it was. Perhaps he will write a book like Madame Bovary, or make some great discovery, or take a huge risk in order to settle his life.

The novel is dedicated to the author’s friends – to those who were able to struggle not only with others, but also with themselves. Such struggle was no stranger to Gaib himself, he was very demanding of himself and tried to show his best qualities to people.

In the novel, the characters speculate about the future hoping that a new life will come to the young generation from a faraway bright horizon - there is a lot of unknown in it, but it will bring power to people. The image of this bright horizon appears more than once in other Gaib's works. Here, in particular, he says that he will write a book about the birth pangs of everything new. And he managed to do it.

As a writer, G. T. Farman was primarily raised by realistic literature based on the principles of truthfulness and reliability, a deep understanding of reality.

Birth Pangs

The novel was put into publication in March 1981 and released in the USSR the same year. The novel is about the 14 July Revolution in Iraq. G.T. Farman vividly and accurately recreated the atmosphere of Baghdad in one of the most complex and controversial periods of its history – the first months of the national democratic revolution, and he conveyed it with sparse methods of slow narration, deprived of any external effects and at the same time filled with the most genuine drama and deep humanity.

The novel attempts to answer the question of how it happened that the revolution that swept away the monarchical system in Iraq, put an end to English dominance in the country and significantly changed the balance of power in the Middle East, suddenly came to a standstill. Why, having done so much, the revolution still did not live up to the expectations set on it, and some rulers were replaced by others who soon turned their coat?

The author focuses on identifying the outcomes of the revolution that adversely affected the lives of ordinary people. The novel attracts readers with its universal intonation, kindness, and love for humans.

Those who visited Baghdad noted the amazing diversity of this city, which is the soul of an entire nation. Anyone who reads a novel by G. T. Farman will touch the very heart of Baghdad, and, consequently, Iraq.

The novel is based on dialogues, the inner monologue of the main character named Karim, the life story of the taxi driver named Nuri and a few other characters, mainly Karim's colleagues at the press agency.

Here, just as in Five Voices, there is an autobiographical character - Karim, and his storyline represents a kind of continuation of the previous novel. For six years he has been wandering abroad, for the last two years he has not received letters from his family, and does not know where they live, because when he comes back he finds that the old district where they lived together has been demolished.

The search for the father, mother and brother constitute a connecting thread of the hero's numerous arguments about the changes that have occurred in the city. The description of the search allows the author to describe Baghdad in great details, especially the old district where Karim lived. Together with Karim the reader can see old shops, markets, small hotels, visits coffee shops, which are absolutely important for the life of this city and its inhabitants.

In 1954, Harvest, his first collection of stories was published. However, after 1954, when mass repressions against the democrats began, he moved to Lebanon, where he lived for a year, then he went to Europe, and later - to Egypt. Then he traveled across China. Soon after the 14 July revolution in 1958, he came back to Iraq, but he had to leave the country again during Qasem’s ruling.

In 1955-1959, he published another collection of stories, Another Child. Farman wrote it in Lebanon and Egypt, but it was published in Iraq.

In 1965 – 1966, the best work of the writer was published in Beirut - it was the novel The Palm Tree and the Neighbors. Another novel, Five Voices, was published in 1967. In 1970, Farman finished the novel Birth Pangs published in Baghdad which was considered the top of Farman's work.

Many literary critics emphasize that The Palm Thee and the Neighbors (1966) can be considered the first Iraqi novel.

There is a lot of autobiographical things in the novel. Gaib remembered a lot about life in his native country, and he gives various life details that are generously scattered on its pages. So, he had great recollections, otherwise how could such vivid memories be born in a foreign land? Often they were sad, but they were born in solitude, in longing for what he left…

Gaib asked: I wonder how the personality of the author corresponds to the image that the reader creates after reading his book. After all, he imagines not only the characters of the novel, but the writer itself. This is really interesting. And now we can attribute this question to Gaib himself as a writer: what he was like in real life and what impression he gave to the reader. In particular, with regard to the novel The Palm Tree and the Neighbors, which became very popular in the Arab world.

List of Russian fiction works translated into Arabic by G.T. Farman in 1960–1990

1. Adabashev I. I. A Man Reforms The Planet. Moscow, 1966.

2. Aini Sadriddin A Brief Story of My Life. Memoirs Moscow, 1964.

3. Aibek. Navoi. (Novel) Tashkent, 1979.

4. Chingiz Aitmatov Tales. Moscow, 1983

5. Chingiz Aitmatov The Ballad of the First Teacher. (Two tales). Moscow, 1964.

6. Akimushkin. Different Animals. Moscow, 1988.

7. Vasily Aksyonov. Colleagues. Moscow, 1966.

8. A. Aleksin. A Very Scary Story. Moscow

9. L. N. Andreev Stories. Moscow, 1989

10. Mukhtar Auezov. The Shot On the Pass. Moscow, 1966. 1980.

11. P. Bazhov Silver Hoof. Moscow, 1989

12. M. Baranova, E. Veltistov Tyapa, Borka, and the Rocket. Moscow, 1964.

13. Belyaev Amphibian Man. Moscow, 1964.

14. Bianki. First Hunt.

15. G. Blinov. Clay Tales by Granny Hamro. Moscow, 1985.

16. Y. Bondarev. Hot Snow. (Novel) Moscow, 1974. Repeatedly re-published in 1970-80.

17. Y. Bondarev. Last Salvos. Moscow, 1986.

18. Y. Bondarev. Shore. 1983

19. V. Bykov. Live Until Dawn. Moscow, 1988.

20. V. Bykov. Alpine Ballad. Moscow, 1988.

21. Arise, Great Country! (Stories, Memoirs, Letters). Moscow, 1976.

22. L. Volynsky. Seven Days Moscow, 1977.

23. A. Gaidar. School. Moscow, 1965.

24. Garshin. Selected Works. Moscow, 1984

25. Y. German. The Cause You Serve. Moscow, 1963.

26. N. V. Gogol. Dead Souls Moscow, 1989 (Translation by Abdul Rahim Badr. Edited and partially translated by G. T. Farman).

27. N. V. Gogol. The Inspector General Tales. Translation by G. T. Farman and Abu Bakr (Marriage, Overcoat).

28. Golovanov Blacksmiths of Thunder. Moscow, 1967.

29. B. Gorbatov. The Unbroken. Moscow, 1984.

30. M. Gorky. The Birth of a Man. Selected Stories Moscow, 1968 (1978, 1979).

31. M. Gorky. V. I. Lenin. Moscow, 1970.

32. Daniil Granin. Seekers Moscow, 1974.

33. Nodar Dumbadze. I See The Sun. (Tale) Moscow, 1970.

32. F. Dostoevsky. Tales and stories. Moscow, 1982.

33. Drabkina Black Breadcrumbs. Moscow, 1971.

34. Zhukovskaya. Conversations About Parenting. Moscow, 1977.

35. Firebird. Russian Folk Tales. Moscow, 1985.

36. Fazil Iskander Time for Happy Finds. (Stories) Moscow, 1971.

37. Koval. Clean Dor. Moscow, 1989

38. Spikelet. Russian folk tale. Moscow, 1989

39. V. Konetsky. If a Friend Calls. Moscow, 1967.

40. Kuznetsov. Continuation of a Legend. (Young Man's Notes) Moscow, 1964.

41. Laptev. Funny Pictures. Moscow, 1964.

42. B. Levin, L. Radlova. Astronomy in Pictures. Moscow, 1986.

43. N. Leskov. Tales and stories. Tashkent, 1988. Translation by G. T. Farman Lady Macbeth of the Mtsensk District, Enchanted Wanderer) and Khayri Aldashin.

44. V. Medvedev. Adventures of Barankin the Student. Moscow, 1965.

45. Mikhailov Across the Map of the U.S.S.R. Moscow, 1974.

46. N. Nosov. Dreamers. Moscow, 1963.

47. N. Nosov. The Adventures of Dunno. Chapters 1-21 Moscow, 1974. How Dunno Became an Artist. Moscow, 1983. Dunno Takes Music Lessons. Moscow, 1984. How Dunno Became a Poet. Moscow, 1984. How Dunno Took a Ride In a Soda-Water Car. Moscow, 1984. How Dunno Made a Balloon. Moscow, 1984. Preparation For the Ascent Moscow, 1986. Up In The Air In The Balloon Moscow, 1986. The Mites of Flower Town Moscow, 1984. In a Strange Place Moscow, 1986. Up In The Clouds Moscow, 1986. An Accident Moscow, 1987. New Friends. Dunno Tells Of His Adventures Moscow, 1988. A Walk About Town. Moscow, 1988. In The Hospital Moscow, 1988. The Concert. Moscow, 1989

48. N. Nosov Bendum and Twistum go to Kite town. Moscow,1990.

49. N. Ostrovsky How the Steel Was Tempered. (Novel) Book One. Moscow, 1969. Book Two Moscow, 1974. Book Three Moscow, 1974. Republished in 1980, 1983, 1984.

50. N. Ostrovsky How the Steel Was Tempered. 2 parts. Moscow, 1988.

51. V. Panova Seryozha Moscow, 1962.

52. Panteleev Package Moscow, 1980.

53. K. Paustovsky A Book About Artists Moscow, 1979.

54. Permyak A Tale About The Grey Wolf Moscow, 1964.

55. A. Pristavkin Notes of My Contemporary. Three Lives. (Siberian stories) Moscow, 1967.

56. Prokofieva I Won’t Say Sorry. Moscow, 1989

57. A.S. Pushkin The Captain’s Daughter Moscow, 1974.

58. A.S. Pushkin Selected Prose Translation by G.T. Farman (The Tales of the Late Ivan Petrovich Belkin and The Captain’s Daughter) and Abu-Bakra (Dubrovsky) Moscow, 1984.

59. Raskin How the Dad Was a Child Moscow, 1966.

60. Stories About Lenin. Moscow, 1967, 1975.

61. Russian Folk Tales. Moscow, 1962.

62. T. Sadykov Wings Moscow, 1979.

63. Y. Semyonov Performing Work Duties Moscow, 1965.

63. Y. Semyonov TASS Is Authorized to Announce Moscow, 1983

65. K. Simonov Days and Nights Moscow, 1979.

66. Tales by Soviet writers Moscow, 1984.

67. K. Tangrykuliev The Eyes of the Cattleman. Moscow, 1986.

68. Teryoshechka Russian folk tale. Moscow, 1987.

69. Toka Salchak The Word of the Arat Moscow, 1964.

70. A. Tolstoy Aelita Moscow, 1964, 1973.

71. A. Tolstoy Collection of works in 5 volumes Vol. 2 The Road to Calvary. Book Two Eighteenth Year Tashkent, 1975,1984. Vol. 3 The Road to Calvary. Book Three Somber Morning Tashkent, 1976, 1984. Vol. 4 Aelita The Hyperboloid of Engineer Garin Tashkent, 1985. Translation by G.T. Farman and H. al-Kaiami

72. A. Tolstoy Peter the Great Moscow, 1990.

73. L. Tolstoy Sevastopol Sketches The Cossacks Moscow, 1981.

74. N. Leskov Tales and stories. Tashkent, 1986.

75. L.N. Tolstoy Stories for Children Moscow, 1966. (Republished in 1973, 1976. 1979)

76. L.N. Tolstoy The Lion and The Dog Moscow, 1975.

77. Tomilin How People Searched For the Figure of the Earth Moscow, 1988.

78. Y. Trifonov (three authors) Tales. Moscow, 1989

79. I.S. Turgenev Selected Works in 5 volumes Vol. 1 Tales and Stories 1844-1860 (Asya and First Love translated by Mawhiba Alkami) Moscow, 1984. Vol. 2 Rudin A Nest of the Gentry. Moscow, 1985. Vol. 3 On the Eve Fathers and Sons Moscow, 1985. Vol. 4 Tales and Stories 1868-1882 (Torrents of Spring translated by Mawhiba Alkami) Moscow, 1985. Vol. 5 Scenes and Comedies 1848-1850

80. M. Sholokhov Selected Works in 4 volumes Vol. 1 Tales of the Don. (Translation by A. Habe, G.T. Farman - literary style) Vol. 2 Virgin Soil Upturned Book One. Tashkent, 1986.

81. M. Sholokhov Virgin Soil Upturned 2 vols. Moscow, 1986.

82. M. Sholokhov And Quiet Flows the Don Books 1-4 (G.T. Farman - literary style)

83. N. Shundik The White Voodoo Moscow, 1981.

The list is based on the author's copies of G.T. Farman's translations available in his library.