Open the Shubbak: Upcoming Arabic Literature Events in London

Starting this Saturday, the Shubbak Festival, which bills itself as a “window on the Arab world,” will take place in and around London from June 22 – July 6:

shubbak mini

There are a number of literary events, at least two of which we hope to cover on ArabLit. If you’d like to attend and write about one of these, please let us know at mlynxqualey[at]gmail[dot]com.

June 27, 6:45 p.m. (Asia House)

Contemporary Arab Fiction – Jana Elhassan and Mohammed Hassan Alwan

Two novelists shortlisted for the 2013 International Prize for Arabic Fiction  talk about their novels and the contemporary Arabic-lit scene.

June 28, 1 p.m. (ICA, The Studio)

New Voices from Gaza

Ali Abukhattab and Samah al-Sheikh discuss their work as writers and promoters of new literature; they will discuss “contemporary literary practices of Gaza’s young creative generation.”

June 28, 7 p.m. (Rich Mix)

Writing Revolution: The Voices from Tunis to Damascus

If you didn’t see Libyan novelist Mohamed Mesrati at Hay, you can see him with Tunisian blogger Malek Sghiri, discussing the new book Writing Revolution.

July 1, 6:30 (Foyles Bookshop)

The Lady from Tel Aviv

The Arab British Centre will be celebrating the English translation (by Elliott Colla) of Rabai al-Madhoun’s International Prize for Arabic Fiction-shortlisted novel, The Lady from Tel Aviv. The conversation with author Rabai al-Madhoun will be lead by British-Palestinian writer Selma Dabbagh, author of Out of It.

July 4, 7 p.m. (TBC)

Continuous City: Mapping Arab London’s Literary Scene

Features a tribute to Sudanese novelist Tayeb Salih and a roundtable discussion “with leading figures of London’s literary community.”