The word on the street (and in The National, and the Saudi Gazette, and parroted by me) has been that Arabic Booker-winning Azazeel (Beelzebub), by Youssef Ziedan, will be out in spring 2010. The book was translated into English by Jonathan Wright, who also translated Khaled al-Khamissi’s charming Taxi.

So I contacted Atlantic, asking for a review copy.

I was told:

“I believe we will be publishing this in August 2011 (although this might change), so I’m afraid as yet nothing to read for a time.”

August 2011! If I started now, I might be able to finish reading it in Arabic by August 2011.

Might.