The contenders for the 2011 International Prize for Arabic Fiction have been whittled down to just six hopefuls. Chair of the judges Fadhil al-Azzawi shares his assessment of the current state of modern Arabic fiction.
The Arab world has a lot of very good writers, but it doesn’t have all that many readers. What is IPAF doing to redress this?
People in the Arab world devour novels, much like they do in Europe. There is a massive reading public in this region, but the main obstacle that is faced by most authors is marketing their book. In Europe and America, novels are widely available. Sadly, the marketing of Arabic books is not quite like this. A book that is published in Baghdad is often not available in Marrakech or Cairo. A book that is published in Beirut can only be bought in Beirut. This is what we must overcome if we are to create a modern Arabic canon.
Many of the shortlisted novels explore the conflict between Islamic values and the Western world. Does this reflect the prevailing theme of Arabic thought right now?
Yes, because this is the most important issue of our time and the most important issue in the world right now. There is a perceived difference in Western and Islamic values, and literature is a hugely important cultural tool with which to explore this issue. And this is one of the reasons why literature is so important, to enable people to understand what is happening in society and to see things from other people’s perspective.
Several decades ago, most of the best known Arabic authors resided in Europe or America. In the shortlist, all but two of the novelists live in their country of birth. Is this a sign that the Arab world is finally retaining its creative ambassadors?
As happened with me 30 years ago, I found it difficult to stay in Iraq and write what I wanted to write. It was only possible to do that outside the country, and many writers had that experience. But now it is easier, and even those writers who have been abroad for many years are finding it easier to visit their countries and to stay for a couple of months. But it is important to be in contact with the world’s major writers, who tend to be outside this region.
Is it important that Arabic novels are read outside the Arab world?
It is important. We have shortlisted these novels because they are good novels, but also because they are dealing with the real problems of our society, and when they are translated, [people outside this region] will be able to understand us better, to know how we think, how we deal with problems. The best way to understand any society is to read the literature of that society.
The winner of the International Prize for Arabic Fiction will be announced on Monday, March 14 in Abu Dhabi, on the eve of the Abu Dhabi International Book Fair. For details, visit www.arabicfiction.org
The 2011 IPAF Shortlist
Mohammed Achaari – The Arch and the Butterfly
‘The Arch and the Butterfly tells the story of a father who one day receives a letter from Al-Qaeda informing him that his son, who he believes is studying in Paris, has died a martyr in Afghanistan.’
Raja Alem – The Doves’ Necklace
‘The secret life of the holy city of Mecca is revealed in this novel. The world painted by the protagonist embraces everything from crime and religious extremism to the exploitation of foreign workers. This bleak scene is contrasted with the protagonist’s love letters to her German boyfriend.’
Khalid al-Bari – An Oriental Dance
‘An Oriental Dance tells the story of a young Egyptian who, on marrying an older British woman, moves to England. Through his eyes, the reader is given a vivid account of the struggles and relationships of the Arab expatriate community living in the UK.’
Bensalem Himmich – My Tormentor
‘Echoing Kafka and One Thousand and One Nights, Himmich imagines an innocent man’s experience in an American prison.’
Amir Taj al-Sir – The Hunter of the Chrysalises
‘The Hunter of the Chrysalises is the story of a former secret service agent who decides to write a novel about his experiences. He starts to visit a café frequented by intellectuals, only to find himself the subject of police scrutiny.’
Miral al-Tahawy – Brooklyn Heights
‘Brooklyn Heights tells the story of New York’s Arab immigrants through the eyes of the female narrator. By contrasting her experiences in America and Egypt, she reveals the problematic relationship between East and West.’
