From the press release: The Arch and the Butterfly by Mohammed Achaari and he Doves’ Necklace by Raja Alem are today, Monday 14 March, announced as joint winners of the International Prize for Arabic Fiction 2011. This is the first time the Prize has been split between two novelists. The winners were announced by this year’s Chair of Judges, the …
Can Book Fairs and Cultural Institutions Change International Perceptions?
The UAE is spending billions on culture, book fairs and building museums, including a new Louvre. French architecture expert Philip Jodidio talks about why. By Olivia Snaije and Edward Nawotka Today’s lead story looks at four book festivals that have sprung up in cities that are more closely associated with business than culture. Among them is Abu Dhabi. What’s interesting …
Timely, Prescient: Libyan Fiction Featured in New Banipal Magazine
By Olivia Snaije When I mentioned to Banipal magazine’s publisher Margaret Obank that their timing was uncanny, Obank answered, “Yes, we thought so too.” The preeminent magazine on Arabic language fiction in translation, Banipal’s 40th issue, out this past Monday, is dedicated to Libyan literature. Their previous issue was on Tunisia and back issues of number 38 on Yemen can …
Arabic and Hebrew: The Politics of Literary Translation
This article is part of a series on publishing in the Middle East which is sponsored by the Abu Dhabi International Book Fair. By Olivia Snaije Anyone involved in the art of translation knows the delicate balancing act it entails: remaining faithful to the original text but allowing the work to stand on its own in its new incarnation. It also …
Does Translation Have the Power to Change the World?
By Edward Nawotka Israel and the Arab World . . . never the twain shall meet? Perhaps. But if anything has the power to change people’s minds, books do. Israel and the Arab World…never the twain shall meet? Perhaps, but — as discussed in today’s lead story — literary translation between the two cultures will surely help each side understand …
Have Western Publishers Been Too Slow to React to Political Change in the Middle East?
In the past publishers cashed in on dramatic events in or originating in the Middle East. So what’s different this time? By Edward Nawotka In today’s lead story about Arabic literature in the West, literary agent Yasmina Jraissati notes that Arabic literature is present on the main territories, but its presence is faint. Given the importance of the Arabic language …
How Visible Is Arabic Lit on the International Scene?
This article is part of a series on publishing in the Middle East which is sponsored by the Abu Dhabi International Book Fair. By Yasmina Jraissati As a literary agent specialized in representing Arabic literature for world translation rights, I am often asked how visible Arabic literature is on the international scene. This question most of the time translates into: …
Following Recent Events, Will You Explore the Mid-East and North Africa for Opportunities in 2011?
The landscape for publishers to explore the Middle East and North Africa for opportunities has never been better. By Edward Nawotka Earlier this month on Publishing Perspectives Egyptian e-book publisher Ramy Habeeb argued that Western publishers had a responsibility to bring “pluralism” to the Middle East publishing community, something they can do by participating in the rebirth of the free and open …
Updates from Egypt: Cairo Publisher’s Offices Attacked
By Olivia Snaije The chairman of one of Egypt’s largest publishing houses, Dar El Shorouk, said Mubarak loyalists tried to attack the offices of his independent newspaper, Al Shorouk, today in the upscale neighbourhood of Mohandeseen. In a telephone interview, Ibrahim El Mouallem said that pro-regime protesters attempted to storm the building but the guards, journalists and neighbours were able …
Arab, Western Publishers Have a Responsibility to Egypt
By Edward Nawotka For obvious reasons, if you want customer service this week from Kotobarabia, Egypt’s predominant e-book store, you’re out of luck. The lifting of censorship will bring a flood of new books, but it’s up to Arab and Western publishers to ensure there’s a pluralism of views. Ramy Habeeb, founder and CEO of Kotobarabia, who spoke to us from …