I am Yusuf and This Is My Brother is a powerful; poetic exploration of history; memory and different forms of love.Before it happened I didnt know those people existed. Now Im not certain that we do... January 1948. Palestine. The British Mandate is ending. The UN is voting on who will control what part of the land. Ali is in love with Nada - but he is in despair. Her father wont let them marry because his brother Yusuf is odd with his own eccentric; child-like point of view. Rufus; a soldier on the occupying British forces; longs for the cold fogs of Sheffield. War begins and; as the villagers are scattered and become refugees; the secret thats kept Ali and Nada apart is revealed. Although set within a politically charged context; the play is full of haunting; dreamlike poetry rather than didactic polemicism. Instead of simply exploring the political debate; Zuabi concentrates more on the richness of language and culture. With a keen awareness of the vulnerability and fragile ephemerality of life; I am Yusuf and This Is My Brother explores humanity and love in the context of loss and death.
#1711584 in eBooks 2014-01-05 2013-12-08File Name: B00I61KDKC
Review
0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. Of Most Interest to Doctors and BiologistsBy Diego BanducciLeonardo was the prototypical "Renaissance Man;" a fact that renders him remarkably difficult for any one biographer to encapsulate fully. Add to that the page limitations imposed upon writers of the Penguin Lives (the typical Life is roughly 165 pages long); and you have an impossible task; no matter how competent the author.Sherwin Nuland is that rarest of all creatures; an articulate doctor (surgeon); who has written several popular books about his craft; including the very popular How We Die: Reflections on Lifes Final Chapter. So he was the ideal choice to write about Leonardos anatomical studies; which he does well.What he omits is any discussion of Leonardos other accomplishments in art; mechanics; aeronautics;... But what modern writer could have written knowledgeably about those wide-ranging fields? Perhaps Isaac Asimov; but he died in 1992.To Dr. Nulands credit; he doesnt try; producing instead a fine book on those topics he does understand. Still; he doesnt capture the man.For those who are interested; there is an excellent film; The Life of Leonardo Da Vinci; produced for Italian television in 1971; that provides a superb overview of Leonardos life. A labor of love by the Italians; it is the definitive film on the subject.0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. A Learned Doctor Explains LeonardoBy Davis HewittThis is a concise and well written biography of the great artist and scientist. It is especially interesting because of the clear explanations by Dr. Nuland of just how advanced were Leonardos observations for his time. An excellent read!5 of 5 people found the following review helpful. Centuries Ahead of the CurveBy Ethan CooperThe focus of this informative biography is da Vinci the anatomist; not Leonardo the painter or proto-technologist. Indeed; this biography truly comes alive only when Nuland; a surgeon and author; describes the advances Leonardo achieved in his study of the body. In my opinion; Nulands touch isnt so sure in other areas of Leonardos achievement and there are; in fact; patches that sound like a product of rushed and unedited dictation. Still; Id rate this as a superior introduction to a scientist centuries ahead of his time. This fine book; by the way; definitely enriched my experience at the da Vinci exhibit that is now showing at New Yorks Metropolitan Museum of Art.
