The writings of Dr. Ahmed Salah Kamel revolve around the existential crises faced by the Arab individual, which appear to be significantly influenced by politics, manifesting in various forms—social, economic, and ideological. The author’s work spans all literary genres, including poetry, theater, novels, and short stories, alongside his academic specialization in literary criticism. He often employs historical context to interpret reality, discussing the challenges of the Arab individual and illustrating how this individual engages with Western intellectual products, applying them in a tribal and opportunistic manner that exacerbates problems and leads to deterioration.

The play “For the Nile, a Sad Legacy” explores the idea that the Egyptian people had the opportunity for national liberation and self-governance on the eve of the French campaign’s departure from Egypt in 1881. It presents a fantastical notion that many individuals were nominated for the position of ruler, with this democratic idea tempting many unqualified candidates to run, resulting in a situation where the entire populace became contenders for power. Ultimately, the position was won by the cunning and deceptive Khurshid Pasha.

The poetry collection “For Whom is the Grief Today?” is a free verse work that addresses the existential crisis of the contemporary Arab individual, who suffers from poverty, deprivation, and fear, despite the vast resources and potentials of their homeland that could allow them to live in paradise on Earth.

The play “A Death Befitting Us,” written in 2006 and performed by the Faculty of Arts troupe at Cairo University on April 10, 2010, before being banned from further performances the following day, predicted the January 25 Revolution and ongoing events. It draws parallels to incidents during the reign of the just Sultan Abu Bakr Ibn Ayyub, highlighting his folly that led the country into disasters on multiple levels, culminating in a devastating famine that resulted in cannibalism, widespread epidemics, and the Nile drying up due to the ruler’s misguided policies.

The poetry collection “Who Unleashed Death?” is a free verse work that delves into the Arab infighting, examining the reasons behind the phenomenon of Muslims denouncing one another and the hidden motives behind the bloodshed. It exposes a harsh and mercenary political reality that practices thievery in the name of patriotism and nationalism, reducing religion to a cheap tool that dehumanizes both individuals and faith.

The children’s play “A Toothless Jungle” presents a fantastical idea about the disappearance of predatory animals from the jungle. It explores what would happen if the jungle were to choose a king instead of the absent lion, and what if this selection process were to occur through democratic means? Everyone would be surprised to find that the new king of the jungle is a donkey.

The novel “The Dikkah Board of Directors ” is a satirical work that innovatively combines structure and content. It does not rely on a sequence of chapters but instead utilizes news reports to create a narrative that shapes the perception of viewers and events. It addresses the application of democracy in Egyptian society, particularly in a village in the heart of the Delta, reflecting how we Egyptians have turned democracy into a notion that invites ridicule and pity, as we have shaped our own understanding of it into a democracy governed by tribal affiliations and narrow personal interests, resulting in nothing but successive disasters.