Ash’ab King of the Parasites

Description

“This lovesick fool, when he ate, would lose his mind, his eyes would bulge, he would become drunk, bewildered, and dazed, his face would turn ashen, and he would neither hear nor see. He would seize the bowl, which was as large as a bull’s skull, and begin to hug it, gnawing at it lengthwise, widthwise, up and down, never separating one date from another, never throwing away a pit, never removing a stem, never peeling away a rind, and never inspecting it for fear of weevils and worms.”

Arabic literature is replete with various kinds of anecdotes and witty sayings woven with eloquence and conciseness. Perhaps the anecdotes of Ash’ab ibn Jubayr are among the most witty and amusing; he was the epitome of greed, gluttony, and insatiable appetite. He never missed a funeral or wedding without intruding on the guests’ meals, and he would never see people eating without spoiling their appetites. Some of his tales were so bizarre that they captivated Tawfiq al-Hakim, who diligently collected the scattered stories of Ash’ab found in classical Arabic literature. From these tales, he crafted this delightful novel, in which we encounter Ash’ab and his slave girl, Rasha, who longs for him to love her one day. However, his love of food leaves no room in his heart for anyone else! We also hear his witty dialogue with his miserly neighbor, al-Kindi, as he employs every trick in the book until al-Kindi agrees to share his food with him. This is in addition to his amusing anecdotes with his friend, Banan.