A Night That Must End by Yusuf Al-Sibai

person الأربعاء, أغسطس 27, 2025

A Night That Must End by Egyptian novelist Yusuf Al-Sibai

1. Basic Information

Full Title: A Night That Must End (in two volumes)
Author: Yusuf Al-Sibai (a renowned Egyptian writer often called “The Knight of Romance”)
Publication Date: 1963
Language: Arabic
Genre: Romantic/social novel with a political backdrop
Length: Volume I – 311 pages; Volume II – 306 pages

2. Main Plot and Characters

Central Character: Suheir, a young woman from Damascus who suffers from a disability after contracting polio at age twelve.
Secondary Character: Hamdi, an Egyptian army officer stationed in Syria during the brief political union between Egypt and Syria.
Dramatic Development: Suheir meets Hamdi during her medical treatment and falls in love with him. Determined to be “worthy” of his love, she undergoes a series of painful and risky operations to overcome her limp.
Symbolism: Suheir’s physical struggle mirrors the challenges of Arab unity and its eventual collapse. Her limp symbolizes political obstacles, while her treatment embodies the hope of overcoming them.

3. Historical and Political Context

Setting: The novel takes place during the union of Egypt and Syria (1958–1961) and its subsequent dissolution.
Political Message: Through a deeply personal lens, the story critiques the breakup of this union, showing how political rifts leave lasting scars on ordinary lives.
Notable Scenes: Vivid depictions of the Arab-Israeli conflicts (1948 and 1956) highlight the mingling of Egyptian and Syrian blood as a metaphor for shared destiny and unity.

4. Literary Style and Features

Language: Clear, flowing prose that balances romance with realism.
Symbolism: Heavy use of metaphor, such as Suheir’s disability as a stand-in for political division, and her healing as a symbol of hope.
Narrative Voice: The first volume is told from Suheir’s perspective, lending the narrative a deeply personal tone.
Descriptive Detail: Rich portrayals of life in Damascus, capturing Syrian traditions and social atmosphere of the 1960s.

5. Key Themes

Love and Sacrifice: How love compels Suheir to endure suffering and strive for transformation.
Unity and Division: The ripple effects of major political events on individual lives.
Suffering and Hope: The core idea that “every night must end”—suffering is not eternal.
Egyptian-Syrian Bonds: A heartfelt exploration of the historical and emotional ties between the two nations.

6. Reception and Criticism

Strengths:
- Deeply moving portrayal of human emotion.
- Innovative intertwining of personal stories with political realities.
Weaknesses:
- Some critics found parts of the novel overly long and repetitive.
Reader Ratings:
- Volume I: 3.7/5 on Goodreads.
- Volume II: 4/5 on Goodreads.

7. About the Author and Historical Context

Yusuf Al-Sibai (1917–1978) was a military officer who became a celebrated novelist and later Egypt’s Minister of Culture.

He was assassinated in Cyprus in 1978 while attending a cultural conference.

Many of his novels were adapted into acclaimed films, including Return My Heart and I Departed.

Summary

A Night That Must End is far more than a romance novel. It stands as a literary document that captures a pivotal moment in Arab history, offering a human critique of political division through the lens of a moving love story.

It remains one of Al-Sibai’s most significant works, showcasing his unique gift for blending passion with politics.

For the original summary in Arabic