YOUSSEF ZIEDAN’S BEELZEBUB
WINS THE INTERNATIONAL PRIZE FOR ARABIC FICTION 2009
http://www.arabicfiction.org/
In Association with the Booker Prize Foundation
With the support of the Emirates Foundation
The winner of the 2009 International Prize for Arabic Fiction (IPAF) is Egyptian author Youssef Ziedan, for his novel Beelzebub, published by Dar al Shorouk, Cairo, in 2008.
WINS THE INTERNATIONAL PRIZE FOR ARABIC FICTION 2009
http://www.arabicfiction.org/
In Association with the Booker Prize Foundation
With the support of the Emirates Foundation
The winner of the 2009 International Prize for Arabic Fiction (IPAF) is Egyptian author Youssef Ziedan, for his novel Beelzebub, published by Dar al Shorouk, Cairo, in 2008.
This year’s winner was announced before a VIP audience of Arab and international intellectuals, publishers, critics, writers and journalists at the gala awards ceremony in Abu Dhabi, UAE, tonight – Monday, March 16 2009. The internationally acclaimed author Amitav Ghosh was guest speaker at the event.
Set in fifth century Upper Egypt, Alexandria and northern Syria, Egyptian author Youssef Ziedan’s winning novel 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.
The much anticipated winner announcement was made by the Chair of Judges, the renowned Lebanese Academic, writer, editor and critic Youmna el Eid. Also present were the four other members of the judging panel: Rasheed El-Enany, Egyptian Professor of modern Arabic literature and Director of Arab Islamic Studies at the University of Exeter; Hartmut Faehndrich, German translator of Arabic literature; Mohammad al Murr, Emirati writer, journalist and Deputy Head of Dubai Cultural Council; Fakhri Saleh, Jordanian critic, journalist and authority on contemporary Arabic literature.
The Chair of Judges, Youmna el Eid, commented: “The judging panel’s work was characterized by a remarkable degree of mutual understanding and the ability to come to an agreement, despite the occasional difference of opinion. In their deliberation and final judgment, the judges’ aim has always been an ‘in depth’ consideration of the novels, and a just outcome. The choice was not easy, because of the distinctly high quality of all six shortlisted novels.”
This annual prize, which is run in association with the UK’s Booker Prize Foundation and with the financial support of the Emirates Foundation of Abu Dhabi, is for prose fiction in Arabic. Its aim is to recognise and reward excellence in contemporary Arabic creative writing and to encourage wider readership of such Arabic literature internationally through translation. Each of the six shortlisted authors receives $10,000, with a further $50,000 going to the winner. The winner is also guaranteed an English translation of his work.
The names of the six shortlisted authors for this independent and prestigious Arabic fiction prize – and those of the previously anonymous judging panel – were announced at a press conference in London on December 10 2008. By that stage, the judges had read and discussed in detail a longlist of over 121 novels published in Arabic and entered from 16 countries.
This year’s winner announcement took place on the eve of Abu Dhabi International Book Fair 2009.
Set in fifth century Upper Egypt, Alexandria and northern Syria, Egyptian author Youssef Ziedan’s winning novel 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.
The much anticipated winner announcement was made by the Chair of Judges, the renowned Lebanese Academic, writer, editor and critic Youmna el Eid. Also present were the four other members of the judging panel: Rasheed El-Enany, Egyptian Professor of modern Arabic literature and Director of Arab Islamic Studies at the University of Exeter; Hartmut Faehndrich, German translator of Arabic literature; Mohammad al Murr, Emirati writer, journalist and Deputy Head of Dubai Cultural Council; Fakhri Saleh, Jordanian critic, journalist and authority on contemporary Arabic literature.
The Chair of Judges, Youmna el Eid, commented: “The judging panel’s work was characterized by a remarkable degree of mutual understanding and the ability to come to an agreement, despite the occasional difference of opinion. In their deliberation and final judgment, the judges’ aim has always been an ‘in depth’ consideration of the novels, and a just outcome. The choice was not easy, because of the distinctly high quality of all six shortlisted novels.”
This annual prize, which is run in association with the UK’s Booker Prize Foundation and with the financial support of the Emirates Foundation of Abu Dhabi, is for prose fiction in Arabic. Its aim is to recognise and reward excellence in contemporary Arabic creative writing and to encourage wider readership of such Arabic literature internationally through translation. Each of the six shortlisted authors receives $10,000, with a further $50,000 going to the winner. The winner is also guaranteed an English translation of his work.
The names of the six shortlisted authors for this independent and prestigious Arabic fiction prize – and those of the previously anonymous judging panel – were announced at a press conference in London on December 10 2008. By that stage, the judges had read and discussed in detail a longlist of over 121 novels published in Arabic and entered from 16 countries.
This year’s winner announcement took place on the eve of Abu Dhabi International Book Fair 2009.
To read an interview with the winning author link here.
Youssef Zeidan. Illustration by Kagan McLeod for The National
And for a review from The Guardian link here.
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