The Sheikh Zayed Book Award (SZBA), which is organised by the Abu Dhabi Arabic Language Centre under the auspices of the Department of Culture and Tourism Abu Dhabi, has announced the shortlists for its 17th edition, featuring 20 authors and organisations from 9 different countries.

This year the Award received a record-breaking 3,151 submissions, with the Young Author prize category attracting 30% of submissions followed by 22% for the Literature category.

The Sheikh Zayed Book Award, one of the world’s leading prizes dedicated to showcasing Arab literature and culture, includes Banipal Magazine (UK), Institut du Monde Arabe, British author Dame Marina Warner, Egyptian author Iman Mersal, and American translator Michael Cooperson among its former laureates.

The 17th edition shortlists are: 

Literature

  • Al-Qata’i: Thoulatheyat Ibn Tulun (Al-Qata’i’ – The Ibn Tulun Trilogy) by Reem Bassiouney (Egypt), published by Nahdet Misr Publishing House in 2022
  • Ila Ayn Ayyathouha Al Kaseedah (“Whereto, O Poem?” An Autobiography) by Ali Ja'far al-Allaq (Iraq), published by Alan Publishers and Distributors in 2022
  • Ifrah ya Qulbi (Rejoice, O My Heart) by Alawiya Sobh (Lebanon), published by Dar Al-Adab for Publication and Distribution in 2022

Young Author

  • Fawka Jisr Al Joumhoureyah (Over the Republic Bridge) by Shahad Al-Rawi (Iraq), published by Dar Alhikma for Publishing and Distribution in 2020
  • Al Wahl wa Al Noujoom (Dirt and Stars) by Ahmed Lotfi (Egypt), issued by Aseer AlKotb in 2022
  • Nehayat Al Sahra’a (The End of the Desert) by Said Khatibi (Algeria), published by Hachette Antoine / Nofal in 2022

Literary and Arts Criticism

  • Mara’i an-Nisaa’: Dirasat fi Kitabat al-That an-Nisaa’iya al-Aarabiya (Women Views: Studies on Arab Women Self Writings) by Dr. Jalila Al Tritar (Tunisia), published by La Maison Tunisienne Du Livre in 2021
  • Suwar al-Wujood fi al-Cinema wa-al-Falsafa (Images of Existence in Cinema and Philosophy) by Mohamed Nouraldin Affaya (Morocco), published by Le Centre Culturel du Livre in 2022
  • Al-Mu’allafat al-Musiqiya al-Aarabiya al-Rahina: Bayn al-Maqamiya wa-al-Tonaliya (Contemporary Arab Music Compositions: Between Maqamat and Tonality) by Dr. Fakher Hakima (Tunisia), published by the Centre for Arab and Mediterranean Music and Sotumedias Publishing and Distribution in 2021

Translation

  • Sarraq al-Kalimat: Bahth fi al-Intihal wa-Eilm at-Tahleel al-Nafsani wal-Fikr (Voleurs De Mots: Essai Sur Le Plagiat, La Psychanalyse et La Pensée) authored by Michel Schneider, translated from French to Arabic by Abdelaziz Chebil (Tunisia), published by Dar Zayneb Publishing in 2022
  • Al-Imbratoriya al-Khatabiya: Sinaat al-Khutaba wal-Hajaj (L’Empire Rhétorique: Rhétorique et Argumentation) authored by Chaim Perelman, translated from French to Arabic by Dr. Lhoussine Banouhachim (Morocco), published by Dar Alkitab Aljadeed in 2022
  • Al-Ibara wa-al-Mi’na: Dirasat fi Nathariyat al-A’amal al-Lughawiya (Expression and Meaning: Studies in the Theory of Speech Acts) authored by John R. Searle, translated from English to Arabic by Chokri Al Saadi (Tunisia), published by the Ministry of Cultural Affairs - Tunisian Institute for Translation in 2021

Arab Culture in Other Languages

  • The Rise of the Arabic Book by Beatrice Gründler (Germany), published in English by Harvard University Press in 2020
  • The Arabic Freud: Psychoanalysis and Islam in Modern Egypt by Omnia El Shakry (Egypt), published in English by Princeton University Press in 2017
  • De l’autre côté des croisades: L’Islam entre croisés et Mongols (On the Other Side of the Crusades: Islam between Crusaders and Mongols) by Gabriel Martinez Gros (France), published in French by Passés Composés in 2021
  • L’invention du cadi. La justice des musulmans, des juifs et des chrétiens aux premiers siècles de l’islam (The Invention of the Qadi: The Justice of Muslims, Jews and Christians in the First Centuries of Islam) by Mathieu Tillier (France), published in French by Éditions de la Sorbonne in 2017
  • Los moriscos antiguos murcianos: Expulsión, vuelta y permanencia (1609-1634) (The ancient Moriscos of Murcia: Expulsion, Return and Permanence) by José Pascual Martínez (Spain), published in Spanish by Publicacions de la Universitat de Valencia in 2022

Publishing and Technology

  • Editions Sindbad / Actes Sud (France)
  • ElAin Publishing (Egypt)
  • The Institute of Arabic Manuscripts (Egypt)

Dr Ali bin Tamim, Secretary-General of SZBA and Chairman of Abu Dhabi Arabic Language Centre, said:

“Each year I am fascinated by the diversity of submissions from around the world and this year’s shortlists represent a compelling range of thought-provoking works across academic, fiction and nonfiction publishing, as well as scholarly research. We were particularly delighted to receive so many submissions in the Young Author category, which I think anticipates a bright future for Arab publishing, and I am pleased to see a rigorous and modern engagement with Arab history and heritage across many of the prize categories. It is an honour to recognise the talent and scholarship of Arab and international authors, bringing their work to a wider audience.”

The winners will be announced in April and will each receive 750,000 UAE dirhams ($204,203.93 US) while the Cultural Personality will receive 1,000,000 UAE dirhams ($272282.20 US) at the SZBA 2023 ceremony taking place at the Abu Dhabi International Book Fair in May.

UAE Reading Month 2023 – supported by Sheikh Zayed Book Award

Every year March is observed as the Month of Reading in the UAE. It is marked by a rich and diverse calendar of engaging activities and sustainable initiatives that motivate the community to read. Its aim is to enrich and support the knowledge and cultural infrastructure in UAE and build a future generation of leaders equipped with culture and knowledge.

LoveReading LitFest is delighted to support this annual initiative by presenting a very special event. We were thrilled that the Director of the UK based publishing company Nomad Publishing, Max Scott, was able to join us. Chatting with international publishing consultant, Emma House, they discussed, amongst other things, the importance of good translators, a new programme of books being launched by Nomad Publishing in 2023, and how Max works with scouts to make sure he’s commissioning the best books from the Arab world. He also gave some book recommendations for UAE Reading Month. The event is supported by the Sheikh Zayed Book Award.

Dive in and watch the event here

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