Introduction to Faisal Al-Ahmar
Faisal Al-Ahmar is one of the most prominent voices in the current Algerian literary scene. His works have achieved remarkable distribution and have been respected for their narrative quality, varying between historical novels, science fiction literature, and psychological literature. Some of his best-known works include "The City of Saint Augustine", "Amin Al-Alwani", "The Conscience of the Speaker", and "The Last Dinner of Karl Marx".
The Inspiration Behind "The Last Dinner of Karl Marx"
In his latest novel, "The Last Dinner of Karl Marx", Faisal Al-Ahmar draws inspiration from a historical incident involving the famous German thinker’s visit to Algeria in 1882. The novel is based on what can be described as "virtual logic" or "inverted logic", where the author presents a hypothesis that is deliberately wrong to demonstrate the integrity of a specific pattern in analysis. Al-Ahmar stood on Marx’s trip to Algeria through his messages and some sporadic comments and news, and he noticed the poverty of this trip due to the serious illness Marx was suffering from.
A Personal Reflection of Philosophy and History
The novel reflects Al-Ahmar’s passion for philosophy and its purity in reading history. He believes that the novel is a reflection of himself, as it expresses the two most important critics early on. His work with philosophy has left a clear impression on the novel, and he concentrated on the many small stories that dealt with Marx’s journey. The character of Marx is a well-known philosopher thinker, but Al-Ahmar wrote the novel with the goal of practicing deep thinking through stories that can seem simple and sometimes normal.
Addressing Criticisms and Stereotypes
Some critics have argued that the expression "last dinner" in the title is a stereotype and consume. However, Al-Ahmar sees it as a question that has a deep surprise about the idea of combining the topic "Last Dinner" with religious shadows and Marx’s character. He believes that the key to history is that Marx was in his house with his closest person in the world, and the novel ends with a very long shot, an exciting loud dinner, in which Marx is not extended afterwards because it is really one last dinner on several levels.
The Historical Novel and Creative Risk
The novel belongs to the so-called "historical novel", which is almost the greatest current in the Arabic story today. Many accuse authors of this creative color of "relief" and "reality from reality in search of provided and complete facts without creative risk". However, Al-Ahmar believes that the historical novel is very difficult and not the "donkey of the novel authors". He thinks that every type of literature has its good and bad, and the historical novel is no exception.
Science Fiction and Its Appeal
Al-Ahmar has a passion for science fiction, having produced three fictional works. He believes that science fiction gives him a special lung that breathes very pure and distinctive air. The idea of philosophy is a future hypothesis of a part of the potential of reality and studying in a way that fulfills the cavities. Science fiction often plays at this point of view and succeeds in being surprised by the strange worlds that surprise us.
The Rise of Crime and Horror Literature
Some argue that science fiction is in front of the "flood of crime and horror literature" that is currently entering the novel worldwide. However, Al-Ahmar thinks that every genre has its path, and science fiction is not literary phenomena in the deep meaning of the word. He believes that imagination and literature of terror and the other world are not literary phenomena but rather touched literary taste.
The Accusation of Being a "Traitor of Poetry"
Al-Ahmar has been accused of being one of the "traitors of poetry" who left poetry and fell into the arms of the novel looking for glory, lights, and prices. However, he believes that poetry is a companion of silence, edge, retreat, and night. It is like a fetus that requires isolation and calm to increase good growth. He thinks that the novel finds reactions for readers, critics, media experts, and university students several times as poetry.
Coexisting with Dualism
Al-Ahmar has to coexist with the dualism of being an academic critic and a creator. He believes that the truth is the interpretation that he is a person of "Chaizuvini", and there is a strange, peaceful coexistence between the poet, novelist, and academic. The constant peace treaties, of which politicians dreamed of the oldest times, were fulfilled in him among the various written breeds.
The Algerian Literary Scene
The Algerian literary scene is like its condition in others, with many beautiful texts being issued. However, there is a negative phenomenon in Algeria, which is the lack of competent platforms, as well as the withdrawal of existing cash platforms. This has led to a situation where literary awards impose a special rhythm, with its advantages and disadvantages. On the other hand, there is a positive indication, which is the quantitative and qualitative entry of women into the worlds of narrative writing. Many young writers are issuing their first novels, which is a necessary step in civilized growth.
