Sleepless nights

"In May, 1989, the Tunisian Ministry of Culture and the Tunisian literary world cornmemorated the fortieth anniversary of the passing of Ali Du´aji, one of the most popular literary figures of modern Tunisian literature. As part of this commemoration, à new edition of his best known work, à collection of short stories entitled Sahartu minhu layali, was re-released and numerous lectures and articles on the life and work of this Tunisian writer appeared throughout the media. Tunisians when asked about Ali Du´aji invariably smile and respond readily and enthusiastically. Those who have not read his stories at least know him through à film rendition of one of his stories or through one of his plays. Many rernember the inauguration of Tunisian television in 1966 with the viewing of one of his plays, ""Zawba´a fi fin jan Il (Much ado about Nothing), and sorne ev en recal1 listening to his plays and sketches on Radio¬Tunis as far back as the 1930s and 1940s. Although it has been fort y years since his untimely death at the age of fort y , Ali Du ´aji still .enjoys à loyal following among Tunisians, having become à permanent fixture of modern Tunisian culture. "