Knowledge of Arabic literature, along with more high-quality translations, is essential for regional novels to thrive in the European book market.
This was the consensus of a select panel of regional and international publishers at the Frankfurt International Book Fair on Thursday, where The National formally launched its comprehensive list of the 50 Most Important Arabic Novels of the 20th Century.
Working alongside the Abu Dhabi Arabic Language Centre, the collection features titles representing countries from the Arab League, based on extensive interviews with more than 50 publishers authors, and judges associated with prestigious awards such as the Sheikh Zayed Book Award and the International Prize for Arabic Fiction.
Dejan Trajkoski, author and founder of the Proza-Balkan literary festival in his native Macedonia, said such an extensive list is needed to guide international publishers on which Arabic titles to consider for possible translation.
“The fact is, there is nothing really out there. Most of the time, we rely on our own contacts, Arab publishers and sometimes even Google, to find which book titles are promising,” he says. “So this project is hugely important because it does help provide a glimpse of what is out there. And the fact that it is done with so much consultation of authors and intellectuals elevates it beyond opinion.”
Trajkoski says Macedonian translations of Arabic works are small and include some of the books featured in The National’s list, such as Naguib Mahfouz’s Cairo Trilogy and Hoda Barakat’s Stone of Laughter.
These two works, he notes, indicate what some Balkan publishers look for when translating Arabic works. "Speaking for what works in the Balkan region, people do want stories that connect them to the Arab region, through its beauty, exoticism and even the harsh realities," he says. "Ultimately, what they are looking for is authentic and honest writing.
"This is why Arab books from the 20th century are translated into Macedonian and major European languages. The variety of topics is amazing because you can learn about Jordan in the 1950s and the 1919 uprising in Egypt against British colonialism. Arabic literature has been more insightful on these topics than history books."
Barbara Schwepcke, chief executive of Ginko, a UK organisation focusing on promoting cultural understanding of the Middle East through conferences and literary translations, says concerted outreach is needed from Arabic publishers to European counterparts about the commercial feasibility of translating Arabic literature.
"Naguib Mahfouz famously said he wouldn't have won the Nobel Prize if he hadn't been translated," she says. "This shows the importance of reaching out to booksellers and telling them about these books. Having the list of 50 books of the 20th century is important, but it is only the first step. Perhaps an opportunity comes to translate sample chapters from these books and present them at the next Frankfurt book fair.
"Literature is by its nature subjective, and while recommendations can only go so far, it is all about convincing people that these amazing stories are worth reading.”
Saeed Al Tunaiji, executive director of the Abu Dhabi Arabic Language Centre, echoes the sentiment. Through the organisation’s appearances at international festivals, where partnerships are created and deals for the publication and translations of Arabic books are sealed, the centre aims to fulfil its mission to promote the Arabic language.
“Not every Arabic publisher has the resources to make those inroads, so we view it as a responsibility to be out there and encourage translations from Arabic to foreign languages," he says. "Across Europe, Latin America and Asia, I have seen growing interest in Arabic literature, and we have to harness that attention through various initiatives, like translation grants and major prizes, such as the Sheikh Zayed Book Award."
In that regard, more quality Arabic translators are needed. Schwepcke says channelling the nuances of Arabic literature to an international audience can be challenging.
"Twentieth-century Arab novels drew me in because their themes resonate. When I read the books of Ibrahim Koni, for example, I learn about the rich hospitality and the difficulties of living in the desert,” she says. "But I only experienced this through quality translations that are more concerned with getting the flavour and richness of Arabic across than just being purely literal translations."
Al Tunaiji adds that word-for-word translations of Arabic novels only tell half the story."It really should be more than that," he says. "By allowing the reader to understand the context surrounding the book, they can then really begin to understand the richness of Arabic culture."
KILLING OF QASSEM SULEIMANI
KILLING OF QASSEM SULEIMANI
The five pillars of Islam
1. Fasting
2. Prayer
3. Hajj
4. Shahada
5. Zakat
The five pillars of Islam
MOUNTAINHEAD REVIEW
Starring: Ramy Youssef, Steve Carell, Jason Schwartzman
Director: Jesse Armstrong
Rating: 3.5/5
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The burning issue
The internal combustion engine is facing a watershed moment – major manufacturer Volvo is to stop producing petroleum-powered vehicles by 2021 and countries in Europe, including the UK, have vowed to ban their sale before 2040. The National takes a look at the story of one of the most successful technologies of the last 100 years and how it has impacted life in the UAE.
Read part four: an affection for classic cars lives on
Read part three: the age of the electric vehicle begins
Read part one: how cars came to the UAE
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The five new places of worship
Church of South Indian Parish
St Andrew's Church Mussaffah branch
St Andrew's Church Al Ain branch
St John's Baptist Church, Ruwais
Church of the Virgin Mary and St Paul the Apostle, Ruwais
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FROM%20THE%20ASHES
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TOUCH RULES
Touch is derived from rugby league. Teams consist of up to 14 players with a maximum of six on the field at any time.
Teams can make as many substitutions as they want during the 40 minute matches.
Similar to rugby league, the attacking team has six attempts - or touches - before possession changes over.
A touch is any contact between the player with the ball and a defender, and must be with minimum force.
After a touch the player performs a “roll-ball” - similar to the play-the-ball in league - stepping over or rolling the ball between the feet.
At the roll-ball, the defenders have to retreat a minimum of five metres.
A touchdown is scored when an attacking player places the ball on or over the score-line.
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Everton 1 Stoke City 0
Everton (Rooney 45 1')
Man of the Match Phil Jagielka (Everton)
Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis
Sheer grandeur
The Owo building is 14 storeys high, seven of which are below ground, with the 30,000 square feet of amenities located subterranean, including a 16-seat private cinema, seven lounges, a gym, games room, treatment suites and bicycle storage.
A clear distinction between the residences and the Raffles hotel with the amenities operated separately.
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Dust and sand storms compared
Sand storm
- Particle size: Larger, heavier sand grains
- Visibility: Often dramatic with thick "walls" of sand
- Duration: Short-lived, typically localised
- Travel distance: Limited
- Source: Open desert areas with strong winds
Dust storm
- Particle size: Much finer, lightweight particles
- Visibility: Hazy skies but less intense
- Duration: Can linger for days
- Travel distance: Long-range, up to thousands of kilometres
- Source: Can be carried from distant regions
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Poacher
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Pathaan
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Zayed Sustainability Prize
The years Ramadan fell in May
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Zayed Sustainability Prize
QUALIFYING RESULTS
1. Max Verstappen, Netherlands, Red Bull Racing Honda, 1 minute, 35.246 seconds.
2. Valtteri Bottas, Finland, Mercedes, 1:35.271.
3. Lewis Hamilton, Great Britain, Mercedes, 1:35.332.
4. Lando Norris, Great Britain, McLaren Renault, 1:35.497.
5. Alexander Albon, Thailand, Red Bull Racing Honda, 1:35.571.
6. Carlos Sainz Jr, Spain, McLaren Renault, 1:35.815.
7. Daniil Kvyat, Russia, Scuderia Toro Rosso Honda, 1:35.963.
8. Lance Stroll, Canada, Racing Point BWT Mercedes, 1:36.046.
9. Charles Leclerc, Monaco, Ferrari, 1:36.065.
10. Pierre Gasly, France, Scuderia Toro Rosso Honda, 1:36.242.
Eliminated after second session
11. Esteban Ocon, France, Renault, 1:36.359.
12. Daniel Ricciardo, Australia, Renault, 1:36.406.
13. Sebastian Vettel, Germany, Ferrari, 1:36.631.
14. Antonio Giovinazzi, Italy, Alfa Romeo Racing Ferrari, 1:38.248.
Eliminated after first session
15. Antonio Giovinazzi, Italy, Alfa Romeo Racing Ferrari, 1:37.075.
16. Kimi Raikkonen, Finland, Alfa Romeo Racing Ferrari, 1:37.555.
17. Kevin Magnussen, Denmark, Haas Ferrari, 1:37.863.
18. George Russell, Great Britain, Williams Mercedes, 1:38.045.
19. Pietro Fittipaldi, Brazil, Haas Ferrari, 1:38.173.
20. Nicholas Latifi, Canada, Williams Mercedes, 1:38.443.
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
WOMAN AND CHILD
Director: Saeed Roustaee
Starring: Parinaz Izadyar, Payman Maadi
Rating: 4/5
THE BIO:
Sabri Razouk, 74
Athlete and fitness trainer
Married, father of six
Favourite exercise: Bench press
Must-eat weekly meal: Steak with beans, carrots, broccoli, crust and corn
Power drink: A glass of yoghurt
Role model: Any good man
Six large-scale objects on show
- Concrete wall and windows from the now demolished Robin Hood Gardens housing estate in Poplar
- The 17th Century Agra Colonnade, from the bathhouse of the fort of Agra in India
- A stagecloth for The Ballet Russes that is 10m high – the largest Picasso in the world
- Frank Lloyd Wright’s 1930s Kaufmann Office
- A full-scale Frankfurt Kitchen designed by Margarete Schütte-Lihotzky, which transformed kitchen design in the 20th century
- Torrijos Palace dome
LILO & STITCH
Starring: Sydney Elizebeth Agudong, Maia Kealoha, Chris Sanders
Director: Dean Fleischer Camp
Rating: 4.5/5
