Thursday, December 11, 2008


THE INTERNATIONAL PRIZE FOR
ARABIC FICTION 2009

Shortlist Announced

http://www.arabicfiction.org/

Mohammad Al-Bisatie, Fawwaz Haddad, Inaam Kachachi, Ibrahim Nasrallah, Al-Habib Al-Salmi and Yusuf Zaydan are the six authors shortlisted for the International Prize for Arabic Fiction 2009, the prestigious literary prize which aims to recognise and reward excellence in contemporary Arabic creative writing and to encourage wider readership of such Arabic literature internationally through translation.
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.

The shortlist was announced by the chair of judges, Youmna el Eid, at a press conference at the Southbank Centre in London today (Wednesday 10 December 2008).

The panel of judges, who were also revealed today, come from Lebanon, Egypt, Jordan, the UAE and Germany - all specialists in the field of Arabic literature - met in London this week to decide the list of six books.

Joumana Haddad, the Prize’s Administrator, commented: “The remarkable success of the 2008 shortlist, with many translation deals secured for all 6 authors, is yet another stimulus for IPAF to develop new ways to promote Arabic literature, and to provide its longlisted, shortlisted and winning writers with more publishing and publicity opportunities worldwide”.

Not only can writers shortlisted for the prize look forward to reaching wider audiences and potentially securing publishing deals – both within the Arab World and internationally – but they will also each receive $10,000. The final winner will receive an additional $50,000.

The winner of the International Prize for Arabic Fiction 2009 will be announced at an awards ceremony in Abu Dhabi on Monday 16 March 2009, immediately prior to the Abu Dhabi International Book Fair. Plans for the translation of the 2009 winner and shortlist are currently in discussion.

Shortlist:

Hunger - Al Bisatie, Mohammad

The Unfaithful Translator - Haddad, Fawwaz

The American Granddaughter - Kachachi, Inaam

Time of White Horses - Nasrallah, Ibrahim

The Scents of Marie-Claire - Al-Salmi, Al-Habib

Beelzebub - Zeydan, Yusuf

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