Abu Dhabi, Nov 10th, 2011 (WAM) -- The longlist of 13 novels contending for the International Prize for Arabic Fiction 2012 announced today from 101 entries of 15 countries published in the last 12 months.
The longlisted authors come from seven countries, with four authors a piece from Lebanon and Egypt. Syria, Algeria, Iraq, Tunisia and Jordan are each represented by one author. This year a number of the longlisted novels deal with the theme of the Lebanese war, whilst other common themes include displacement both for expatriate Arabs and those who have lost loved ones in childhood and the challenge of rediscovering ones roots and identity, says a press statement released by Emirates Foundation for Philanthropy. Youssef Ziedan, who won the Prize in 2009 with Azazel, makes it onto this years longlist with The Nabatean. He is joined by three other previously shortlisted authors: Jabbour Douaihy (June Rain, 2008); Habib Selmi (The Scents of Marie-Claire, 2009) and Rabee Jaber (America, 2010). Ezzedine Choukri Fishere was longlisted for the Prize in 2009 for Intensive Care. These books were selected by a panel of five specialists in the field of Arabic literature. The judges names will be announced in Cairo on the 7th of the next month, at the same time as the 2012 shortlist. The 2012 Chair of Judges commented on the longlist: "The fifth cycle of the International Prize for Arabic Fiction takes place in exceptional circumstances, with many Arab uprisings against despotic regimes which have been entrenched in most regions of the Arab world for long decades. Without actually asserting that the novels nominated for this prize cycle directly prophesy the Arab Spring, we can say that many of them paint a picture of the stifling conditions prevalent before the explosion of uprisings. They take the reader into the underground world of the secret police and portray the thirst for freedom of many of their heroes and secondary characters, at the same time exposing the opportunism of those who co-operate with those secret forces." Jonathan Taylor, Chair of the Board of Trustees, commented: "Five years on, it is hugely gratifying to see how the prize is fulfilling its purpose: to recognise and reward the best of Arabic literature and to encourage translation internationally. We are also delighted to see how the prize has stimulated Arabic fiction writing, as a genre."Salwa Mikdadi, Head of Arts & Culture Programme at the Emirates Foundation, adds: "The Prize continues to garner regional and international interest in Arabic literature, as evident in the multiple editions and the translations into over twelve languages. The Foundation is proud to continue its support of the Prize in its fifth year."The International Prize for Arabic Fiction is awarded for prose fiction in Arabic and each of the six shortlisted finalists receives $10,000, with a further $50,000 going to the winner. It was launched in Abu Dhabi, UAE, in April 2007, and is supported by the Booker Prize Foundation and the Emirates Foundation for Philanthropy. The winner of the International Prize for Arabic Fiction 2012 will be announced at an awards ceremony in Abu Dhabi in March 2012, on the eve of the Abu Dhabi International Book Fair.Copyright Emirates News Agency (WAM) 2011.
