Albert Cossery

Albert Cossery, born on November third, nineteen thirteen, was an Egyptian-born French writer whose literary contributions have left an indelible mark on the world of fiction. Although he spent the majority of his life in Paris, he remained deeply connected to his roots, crafting narratives that either unfolded in his native Egypt or in an imagined Middle Eastern landscape.

Known affectionately as 'The Voltaire of the Nile', Cossery's works celebrate the lives of the humble and the misfits he encountered during his childhood in Cairo. His writing often extols a philosophy of laziness and simplicity, standing in stark contrast to the fast-paced demands of contemporary society.

Cossery became a familiar figure in the vibrant neighborhood of Saint-Germain-des-Prés, where he resided at the Hotel La Louisiane since nineteen forty-five. His presence in this artistic enclave further solidified his status as a significant literary voice, one who championed the overlooked and the marginalized.