Literary stars

The International Prize for Arabic Fiction is significant for all of us in many ways

A book of excerpts from the short listed entries in this year’s International Prize for Arabic Fiction.
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The International Prize for Arabic Fiction – the Arabic Booker – is significant for all of us

Yesterday’s edition of The National offered a reward to its readers – a book of excerpts from the short listed entries in this year’s International Prize for Arabic Fiction. The stories – both in Arabic and in English translation – not only put a spotlight on some of the most versatile writers in the Arab world, but they open a window to the region for potential readers in distant places.

This is why the event, now in its ninth year, is so significant. The six novels in the shortlist portray a clutch of absorbing stories, from the trauma of the Nakba to the challenges of leaving the Bedouin way of life behind and a dark portrayal of regional counter-revolution set in the near future.

While one of the writers will win the $50,000 (Dh184,000) prize tonight – on the eve of the opening of the Abu Dhabi International Book Fair – these powerful works will create a synergy with the country’s quest to promote a love of reading among the young generation – and those far away.