The International Prize for Arabic Fiction encourages “the readership of high quality Arabic literature internationally through the translation and publication of winning and shortlisted novels in other major languages.”
Out of the sixteen novels longlisted for this year’s prize, nine of the novels were written by African authors from Sudan, Egypt, Algeria, Tunisia, and Morocco. The novels are:
- The Eye of Hammurabi by Abdulatif Ould Abdullah (Algeria)
- The Orchards of Basra by Mansoura Ez Eldin (Egypt)
- The Life of Butterflies by Youssef Fadel (Morocco)
- Calamity of the Nobility by Amira Ghenim (Tunisia)
- The Night Bird by Amara Lakhous (Algeria)
- J by Sara al-Nams (Algeria)
- Two Green Eyes by Hamed al-Nazir (Sudan)
- File 42 by Abdelmeguid Sabata (Morocco)
- Longing for the Woman Next Door by Habib Selmi (Tunisia)
The Chair of the 2021 Judges, Chawki Bazih, remarks:
“These 16 outstanding books from across the Arab world encompass a variety of styles and themes, from documentary-like narrative, to letters and ingenious use of the crime thriller genre, all penetrating the social and psychological fabric of Arab society. They have boldly exposed the many tragic faces of Arab reality and held regimes responsible for human rights abuse, the stealing of freedoms, persecution of women and their encouragement of violence, fundamentalism and wars.”
The six shortlisted titles will be announced on March 29, 2021.
Visit here to see other longlisted novels.
Image source: International Prize For Arabic Fiction
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