Obraz Aleksandrii w „Domu” Piotra Ibrahima Kalwasa

Abstract

The article presents the image of Alexandria in the autobiographical novel Dom [Home] written by Piotr Ibrahim Kalwas. After conversion to Islam Kalwas decided to settle down in Egypt, in the city of Alexandria. His narration is situated in the rich literary context; Alexandria has its place in history and has a magnificent literary tradition; it is the city of Kawafis and Durell. Kalwas transforms literary descriptions of the city and creates his own Alexandria. This image is dominated by sensual experiences: sounds and smells. Alexandria is also the space of meditation and mystery for the writer with its important symbolic figure of the Book – the main motif in work of Edmond Jabès – one of literary and philosophical contexts referred by Kalwas in his novel.