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1kidzdoc
The International Prize for Arabic Fiction, also known as the 'Arabic Booker', is a "prestigious literary prize which aims to award excellence in contemporary Arabic creative writing, and to encourage wider readership of quality Arabic literature internationally. The prize was launched in Abu Dhabi, UAE, in April 2007 in association with the Booker Prize Foundation and with the support of the Emirates Foundation. All works submitted for the International Prize for Arabic Fiction must be prose fiction in Arabic."
The initial award (2007/2008) went to the Egyptian novelist Bahaa Taher for his novel Sunset Oasis, which will be published in English in September.
Youssef Ziedan of Egypt won the 2008/2009 award today, for his novel Beelzebub, which explores "doctrinal conflicts that erupted after Christianity became the official religion of the Roman Empire."
The shortlist for the 2008/2009 prize:
Mohammad Al Bisatie, Hunger (Egypt)
Fawwaz Haddad, The Unfaithful Translator (Syria)
Inaam Kachachi, The American Granddaughter (Iraq)
Ibrahim Nasrallah, Time of White Horses (Jordan/Palestine)
Habib Selmi, The Scents of Marie-Claire (Tunisia)
Yusuf Zeydan, Beelzebub (Egypt)
The shortlist for the 2007/2008 prize:
Jabbour Douaihy, June Rain (Lebanon)
Elias Farkouh, The Land of Purgatory (Jordan)
Khaled Khalifa, In Praise of hatred (Syria)
May Menassa, Walking in the Dust (Lebanon)
Mekkaoui Said, Swan Song (Egypt)
Bahaa Taher, Sunset Oasis (Egypt)
Of these 10 novels, the only one that I could find that has been published in English is Hunger by Mohammad Al Bisatie, which is available from Arabia Books
Egypt’s Youssef Ziedan Wins $50,000 Prize for Arabic Fiction
The initial award (2007/2008) went to the Egyptian novelist Bahaa Taher for his novel Sunset Oasis, which will be published in English in September.
Youssef Ziedan of Egypt won the 2008/2009 award today, for his novel Beelzebub, which explores "doctrinal conflicts that erupted after Christianity became the official religion of the Roman Empire."
The shortlist for the 2008/2009 prize:
Mohammad Al Bisatie, Hunger (Egypt)
Fawwaz Haddad, The Unfaithful Translator (Syria)
Inaam Kachachi, The American Granddaughter (Iraq)
Ibrahim Nasrallah, Time of White Horses (Jordan/Palestine)
Habib Selmi, The Scents of Marie-Claire (Tunisia)
Yusuf Zeydan, Beelzebub (Egypt)
The shortlist for the 2007/2008 prize:
Jabbour Douaihy, June Rain (Lebanon)
Elias Farkouh, The Land of Purgatory (Jordan)
Khaled Khalifa, In Praise of hatred (Syria)
May Menassa, Walking in the Dust (Lebanon)
Mekkaoui Said, Swan Song (Egypt)
Bahaa Taher, Sunset Oasis (Egypt)
Of these 10 novels, the only one that I could find that has been published in English is Hunger by Mohammad Al Bisatie, which is available from Arabia Books
Egypt’s Youssef Ziedan Wins $50,000 Prize for Arabic Fiction
2avaland
This is interesting, kidzdoc, though it would be great if we could find synopses in English. I would be interested in the contemporary themes in Arabic literature.
3kidzdoc
Good idea, avaland. These are synopses of the 2008/2009 shortlisted books from the IPAF web site:
Hunger by Muhammad Al-Bisatie
Hunger is a detailed account of the ordinary lives of those at the very bottom of society, sufferers of continuous hunger. Through a detached yet intimate portrait of the day-to-day lives, Egyptian author Mohamed El-Bisatie explores how, despite their sufferings, these neglected people are still able to reflect on human existence and ask questions about their surroundings.
The Unfaithful Translator by Fawwaz Haddad
The Unfaithful Translator by Syrian author Fawaz Haddad, tells the story of a translator accused of betrayal due to his non-conformist views on the purpose of translation and the importance of creativity, thought, culture and civilisation. As a result, the translator builds a broad network of literary figures, journalists and critics in a campaign to establish that the art of writing – in its many forms – is essentially human and associated with freedom and life, and therefore rejects submission or subjection to exploitation, negotiation, opportunism or extortion.
The American Granddaughter by Inaam Kachachi
The American Granddaughter, by Iraqi author Inaam Kachachi, depicts the American occupation of Iraq through the eyes of a young American-Iraqi woman, who returns to her country as an interpreter for the US Army. Through the narrator’s conflicting emotions, we see the tragedy of a country which, having battled to emerge from dictatorship, then finds itself under foreign occupation.
Time of White Horses by Ibrahim Nasrallah
Charting the history of three generations of a Palestinian family in a small village, Jordanian author Ibrahim Nasrallah’s saga novel is a descendant of a genre introduced in Arabic fiction by Naguib Mahfouz’s famous Cairo Trilogy. Through the lives of the members of this family, Nasrallah depicts the tragedy of a whole nation under changing historical circumstances: the Ottoman rule, the British Mandate and the Nakba (the catastrophe of the Jewish occupation of Palestinian land in 1948) to the expulsion of the Palestinians and finally the post-Nakba era.
The Scents of Marie-Claire by Habib Selmi
Following a well-established tradition in modern Arabic fiction, Tunisian author Al-Habib Al-Salmi’s novel explores the cultural encounter/clash between East and West. Al-Salmi explores this theme through the relationship between an Arab man and a Western woman, each embodying the value system of their respective cultures.
Beelzebub by Yusuf Zaydan
Set in fifth century Upper Egypt, Alexandria and northern Syria, Egyptian author Yussef Zeydan’s story unfolds during a critical point in Christian history. Focusing on the period following the Roman Empire’s adoption of the 'new' religion, the novel highlights the subsequent internal doctrinal conflicts rising amongst the fathers of the Church on the one hand, and between the 'new' believers and receding paganism on the other.
Hunger by Muhammad Al-Bisatie
Hunger is a detailed account of the ordinary lives of those at the very bottom of society, sufferers of continuous hunger. Through a detached yet intimate portrait of the day-to-day lives, Egyptian author Mohamed El-Bisatie explores how, despite their sufferings, these neglected people are still able to reflect on human existence and ask questions about their surroundings.
The Unfaithful Translator by Fawwaz Haddad
The Unfaithful Translator by Syrian author Fawaz Haddad, tells the story of a translator accused of betrayal due to his non-conformist views on the purpose of translation and the importance of creativity, thought, culture and civilisation. As a result, the translator builds a broad network of literary figures, journalists and critics in a campaign to establish that the art of writing – in its many forms – is essentially human and associated with freedom and life, and therefore rejects submission or subjection to exploitation, negotiation, opportunism or extortion.
The American Granddaughter by Inaam Kachachi
The American Granddaughter, by Iraqi author Inaam Kachachi, depicts the American occupation of Iraq through the eyes of a young American-Iraqi woman, who returns to her country as an interpreter for the US Army. Through the narrator’s conflicting emotions, we see the tragedy of a country which, having battled to emerge from dictatorship, then finds itself under foreign occupation.
Time of White Horses by Ibrahim Nasrallah
Charting the history of three generations of a Palestinian family in a small village, Jordanian author Ibrahim Nasrallah’s saga novel is a descendant of a genre introduced in Arabic fiction by Naguib Mahfouz’s famous Cairo Trilogy. Through the lives of the members of this family, Nasrallah depicts the tragedy of a whole nation under changing historical circumstances: the Ottoman rule, the British Mandate and the Nakba (the catastrophe of the Jewish occupation of Palestinian land in 1948) to the expulsion of the Palestinians and finally the post-Nakba era.
The Scents of Marie-Claire by Habib Selmi
Following a well-established tradition in modern Arabic fiction, Tunisian author Al-Habib Al-Salmi’s novel explores the cultural encounter/clash between East and West. Al-Salmi explores this theme through the relationship between an Arab man and a Western woman, each embodying the value system of their respective cultures.
Beelzebub by Yusuf Zaydan
Set in fifth century Upper Egypt, Alexandria and northern Syria, Egyptian author Yussef Zeydan’s story unfolds during a critical point in Christian history. Focusing on the period following the Roman Empire’s adoption of the 'new' religion, the novel highlights the subsequent internal doctrinal conflicts rising amongst the fathers of the Church on the one hand, and between the 'new' believers and receding paganism on the other.
4kidzdoc
Synopses of the 2007/2008 shortlisted books, the first year that the prize was awarded:
June Rain by Jabbour Douaihy
Jabbour Douaihy’s novel evokes the horrors of internal division in Lebanon, through its observation of the daily life of a village where vendetta is the prevailing system of justice. The work is notable for its precision of language, for its use of the multiple viewpoint technique, and for a vocabulary that highlights the hidden aspects of the conflict.
The Land of Limbo by Elias Farkouh
Elias Farkouh’s novel combines the structure of an autobiography of a specific man with the biography of exiled man in general. If discusses the power of time and the vulnerability of the human being in a fresh and original language, using a number of different voices.
In Praise of Hatred by Khaled Khalifa
Khaled Khalifa’s work narrates the experience of oppression under fundamentalist organizations in a Syrian society that is devoid of democracy. The work employs a multi-layered language to depict a set of characters torn apart in the face of an uncertain future.
Walking in the Dust by May Menassa
May Menassa’s work celebrates a memory that is scarred by the tragedies of war and loss in today’s world. The novel is written in a distinctively flowing prose style, with a hint of poetry well suited to the universal pain with which it deals.
Swan song by Mekkaoui Said
Mekkaoui Said’s work employs the novel form to depict an unstable, ever-changing social reality. He employs an innovative structure to introduce us to a reading of reality and its transformations, in a work of beauty that both laments a lyrical time now past, and fashions a potential future of unanswerable questions.
Sunset Oasis by Baha Taher
Baha Taher delivers in this book a high quality fiction work, at both the aesthetic and value levels. And depending on the metaphor of the journey that crystallizes the existential crisis of a defeated man, he deals with many broad human questions.
June Rain by Jabbour Douaihy
Jabbour Douaihy’s novel evokes the horrors of internal division in Lebanon, through its observation of the daily life of a village where vendetta is the prevailing system of justice. The work is notable for its precision of language, for its use of the multiple viewpoint technique, and for a vocabulary that highlights the hidden aspects of the conflict.
The Land of Limbo by Elias Farkouh
Elias Farkouh’s novel combines the structure of an autobiography of a specific man with the biography of exiled man in general. If discusses the power of time and the vulnerability of the human being in a fresh and original language, using a number of different voices.
In Praise of Hatred by Khaled Khalifa
Khaled Khalifa’s work narrates the experience of oppression under fundamentalist organizations in a Syrian society that is devoid of democracy. The work employs a multi-layered language to depict a set of characters torn apart in the face of an uncertain future.
Walking in the Dust by May Menassa
May Menassa’s work celebrates a memory that is scarred by the tragedies of war and loss in today’s world. The novel is written in a distinctively flowing prose style, with a hint of poetry well suited to the universal pain with which it deals.
Swan song by Mekkaoui Said
Mekkaoui Said’s work employs the novel form to depict an unstable, ever-changing social reality. He employs an innovative structure to introduce us to a reading of reality and its transformations, in a work of beauty that both laments a lyrical time now past, and fashions a potential future of unanswerable questions.
Sunset Oasis by Baha Taher
Baha Taher delivers in this book a high quality fiction work, at both the aesthetic and value levels. And depending on the metaphor of the journey that crystallizes the existential crisis of a defeated man, he deals with many broad human questions.
5avaland
kidzdoc, thanks for putting all the work into posting these. I have to come back and read them when I have more time. I just know some are going to sound yummy and yet they will not be accessible:-(
6amandameale
Thanks kidzdoc. I will be looking out for Sunset Oasis.
7kidzdoc
The Guardian's Maya Jaggi interviewed Youssef Ziedan, the winner of this year's award, and posted an article last week:
Meeting the winner of the 'Arabic Booker'
Meeting the winner of the 'Arabic Booker'
8kidzdoc
This year's award will be shared by two writers, Mohammed Achaari for The Arch and the Butterfly, and Raja Alem for The Doves’ Necklace. Ms Alem is the first woman to win the International Prize for Arabic Fiction, also known as "The Arabic Booker Prize", as it is supported by the Booker Prize Foundation.
According to the Chair of Judges, the Iraqi poet and novelist Fadhil Al-Azzawi, “They are two wonderful novels with great literary quality and they both deal with important and realistic problems in the Middle East, problems which have been reflected on banners during the recent protests that have shaken the Arab world, demanding change. The first novel, The Arch and the Butterfly, deals with Islamic extremism and terrorism and its destructive effect upon Arabic society itself, rather than on the West. The second, The Dove’s Necklace, reveals the true face of Mecca: behind the city’s holy veil there is another Mecca, where many crimes are committed and there is also corruption, prostitution and mafias of building contractors who are destroying the historic areas of the city, and therefore its soul, for commercial gain.”
More information:
International Prize for Arabic Fiction (official web site)
International Arabic fiction prize awarded to Alem and Achaari (article in today's Guardian)
According to the Chair of Judges, the Iraqi poet and novelist Fadhil Al-Azzawi, “They are two wonderful novels with great literary quality and they both deal with important and realistic problems in the Middle East, problems which have been reflected on banners during the recent protests that have shaken the Arab world, demanding change. The first novel, The Arch and the Butterfly, deals with Islamic extremism and terrorism and its destructive effect upon Arabic society itself, rather than on the West. The second, The Dove’s Necklace, reveals the true face of Mecca: behind the city’s holy veil there is another Mecca, where many crimes are committed and there is also corruption, prostitution and mafias of building contractors who are destroying the historic areas of the city, and therefore its soul, for commercial gain.”
More information:
International Prize for Arabic Fiction (official web site)
International Arabic fiction prize awarded to Alem and Achaari (article in today's Guardian)
9Jargoneer
Here's an interesting article on this award - looks like judgements are more political than literary...
Arabic Booker Can't Escape Controversy
Arabic Booker Can't Escape Controversy
