Mona Prince – Writer, Activist, Contrarian. But Always ‘Herself’
ALEXIA UNDERWOOD, ARABLIT: She was a presidential candidate so it’s not surprising that Mona Prince has much to say about today’s Egypt
‘If Only’: A Young, Syrian Poet’s Searing Words
M. LYNX-QUALEY: A young Syrian poet writes about the horror that she has witnessed in her homeland.
The Arab Women Writers To Read: A Personal Choice
M. LYNX-QUALEY: I’m a less than enthusiastic participant in the ‘Women to Read’ movement but here are some writers worth spending time with.
Five Books To Get You Started on Arabic Literature
M. LYNX-QUALEY: ‘There’s far too much to choose from. Where do I start is?’ a common complaint. So here are a few primers.
‘Translating for Bigots’: One Author’s How-To Guide
M. LYNX-QUALEY: If you’re looking to communicate with an audience that is, let’s call it, less sympathetic to your views how should you go about it?
A Matter of Translation: Aswany Endures Fierce Attack
M. LYNX-QUALEY: He’s arguably Egypt’s best-known novelist but Alaa Aswany has come under ferocious criticism from his ex-translator
Tawfiq al-Hakim: Let’s Celebrate The ‘First’ Arab Novelist
M. LYNX-QUALEY: Naguib Mahfouz himself saw him as the originator of the modern Arab novel. His work and his life are deserving of celebration
‘Thug’,’Infiltrator’: ‘What Do These Words Mean To You?’
M. LYNX-QUALEY: Amira Hanafi, an Egyptian-American poet, is about to embark on a novel initiative inspired by her experiences in Tahrir Square during 25th January revolution
Meddle in Afghanistan: The Lesson from History Is Clear
STEVE ROYSTON: My Summer reading has been dominated by books which consider how major powers, in particular Britain, have come to grief in Afghanistan
An Arab Nobel Prize Winner? Don’t Bet On It!
M. LYNX-QUALEY: It’s the same old names who are allegedly in contention for the Nobel Literature Prize according to the oddsmakers.
The Trench Revisited: Another View of Saudi, Oil and Progress
The Trench is the second in a quintet that explores the corruption of society by oil, and of those who extracted it, exploited it and enriched themselves in the process.
STEVE ROYSTON: The Trench is the second in a quintet that explores the corruption of society by oil, and of those who extracted it, exploited it and enriched themselves in the process.
Midaq Alley: A Slice of Cairo Brilliantly Revealed
DANIEL M. VARISCO: The incomparable Naguib Mahfouz had a brilliant eye for the detail that revealed Cairo everyday life. Here’s one of my favourite passages.
PalFest 2013: Beyond ‘the Crisis Narrative’ To Art & Experiment
M. LYNX-QUALEY: The organisers of this year’s Palestine Lit Fest have decided to ignore, as much as possible, the physical barriers separating Palestinians
Arab Writers at PEN: It’s Not Just About Politics
M. LYNX-QUALEY: At major international writer events there seems to be an overwhelming focus on the politics of the region. Understandable but we’re neglecting a fuller picture
“If You Only Ever Read Five Arabic Books, Read These”
M. LYNX-QUALEY: So you’ve decided that there’s only enough time in your life to read five Arabic books (translated). Here’s a little help deciding which five.
Emirati Sci-Fi Author ‘In No Hurry’ To Translate
M. LYNX-QUALEY: Noura Noman is delighted that her sci-fi novel in Arabic is appealing to primarily teenage audience starved of popular literature in their language
‘Revolution Against Classical Arabic Is Now Required’
M. LYNX-QUALEY: There is a strong and growing sentiment against the constraints put upon writers in the region who write in a collloquial style
Popular and Acclaimed: The Voice of Arab Women?
M. LYNX-QUALEY: Her latest novel has sold more than 100,000 copies within the first two months of release. She is, though, a sharply divisive figure
A ‘Compelling’ Vision of Cairo ‘In All Its Multiplicities’
ELISABETH JAQUETTE, ARABLIT: Samia Mehrez has brought together a variety of writers’ views of Cairo over the past century.
Banned Egyptian Graphic Novel ‘Is Back on Shelves’
ELISABETH JAQUETTE, ARABLIT: The re-publication of an infamous work could portend the arrival of a ‘golden age’ in Arabic graphic novels
