Alaa Al-Aswany is an internationally acclaimed Egyptian novelist known for his works examining contemporary Egyptian society. His breakthrough 2002 novel, The Yacoubian Building, critiques the corruption and social inequality of the Mubarak era. As a prominent pro-democracy, his books have been banned in Egypt, and he has been living in self-imposed exile. Despite this, he continues to be a prolific writer and political commentator. His latest novel, published in 2024, is titled The Trees Walk in Alexandria. Other notable works include Chicago (2007) and The Republic of False Truths (2021), a novel set during the 2011 Egyptian revolution. Al-Aswany has lectured at universities worldwide and currently offers creative writing workshops online. He has received over 20 international literary honours and awards for his work. His articles for Deutsche Welle and other publications continue to advocate for democracy and freedom of expression.