Arab- and Arabic-literature events going on around the world. Please add on below.
Feb 1-6
Cairo International Book Fair continues (Cairo, Egypt):
Various ongoing events at the Cairo International Book Fair. Organizers’ website. Many other events, including signing ceremonies, more signings, talks, and more. On Feb. 1, for instance, Ibrahim Abdelmeguid will be signing his new novel, This is Cairo, at 4 p.m. at the Dar al-Mirsiyya al-Libnaniyya booth.
Feb 1-7
Macbeth: Leila and Ben – A Bloody History (Paris, France):
“Et si Macbeth et sa Lady avaient rencontré Bourguiba puis fréquenté la Tunisie sous le règne finissant de Ben Ali…” More about the show.
All February
Launch events, Rabih Alameddine’s An Unnecessary Woman (US)
There seems to be no central listing, but they will be occuring across the US. Here’s Portland on Feb 5. For others, check Google. Or you could follow him on Twitter.
Feb 3
Arabic Literature Discussion Group at the Boulder Library (Boulder, US):
The discussion is set to begin at 7 p.m. and participants will discuss Palestine – A Personal History by Karl Sabbagh. More about the event.
Feb 5 & 9
Stage version of Taxi extended for two more shows (Cairo, Egypt):
Following the high interest in the theatrical adaptation of Khaled El-Khamissi’s Taxi, producers at The Thousand Tongues announced two more shows, Feb 5 and 9, both at 8 p.m., Vent, 6 Kasr El-Nil Street, Downtown, Cairo. More about the show.
Feb 7-9
Waiting for Summer: Arab Women in Revolution (London, UK):
“Swivel Theatre Company are proud to present a series of short plays about Arab women in revolution. From a wedding in Syria to a kitchen in Palestine, revolutionary Egypt and wartime Iraq, four writers take us on a gripping journey through the Arab world.
“With new writing from Hannah Khalil and Maximillian Singh Gill, an adaptation of Yusuf Idris’ Madam Vienna by Hassan Abdulrazzak, and a revival of Martin Crimp’s Advice to Iraqi Women.” More about the show.
Feb 8
“Till Damaskus” Release Party (Stockholm, Sweden):
Syrian poet Ghayath al-Madhoun and Marine Silk launch their joint poetry collection. More on the event. More on the collection (in Swedish).
Feb 8
Hassan Daoud and Lina Mounzer reading from his new novella (Beirut, Lebanon):
Hassan Daoud reads passages from his novella, Naqqil Fouadaka, and Lina Mounzer shares excerpts from the English translation, As She Once Was. To reserve your seat for the screening, please call Dawawine at 01 567 705. Begins 6:30 p.m.
Feb 9
Discussion of New Baghdad Library (London, UK):
“The Mosaic Rooms are pleased to host the architects of AMBS to discuss the importance of the new designs for the planned library, as well as the implications of the building in establishing a new platform for Iraq’s cultural future. Friend of the practice Edwin Heathcote will be chairing the talk, other speakers are to be confirmed.” The event is scheduled to begin at 7 p.m. More on the event.
Feb 9
Yasir Suleiman: ‘Through the Looking Glass: Orientalism and the Translation of Arabic Literature’ (Amman, Jordan):
This talk will be the kick-off event for the International Prize for Arabic Fiction shortlist unveiling. It’s set to be held at Columbia Global Centers | Middle East, 5 Moh’d Al Sa’d Al-Batayneh St., King Hussein Park, Amman. More on the event.
Feb 10
International Prize for Arabic Fiction shortlist revealed (Amman, Jordan and globally):
The shortlist of six titles will be announced. The press conference will begin at 10 a.m. at Abdul Hameed Shoman Foundation, Al Kullyah Al-Ilmiyah St. 15, Jabal Amman, 1st Circle, Amman. A short reception will follow. More about the longlist. More about the press conference.
The International Prize for Arabic Fiction: A Jordanian Viewpoint (Amman, Jordan):
A panel of leading commentators on contemporary Arabic fiction — writers, critics and academics — will “discuss the International Prize for Arabic Fiction, the 2014 shortlisted titles and the Prize’s wider relationship with Jordan. The panel includes: Yasir Suleiman, IPAF Chair of Trustees; Fakhri Saleh, former judge and critic; the 2014 Chair of Judges, and three formerly-shortlisted Jordanian authors: Ibrahim Nasrallah, Elias Farkouh and Jamal Naji.” The event is set to begin at 6:30 p.m. at the Abdul Hameed Shoman Foundation. More about the event.
Book club to discuss Ibrahim al-Koni’s Gold Dust (New York City, US):
From organizers: “Hope you’re all staying warm. An update on location: we’ll be meeting to discuss Gold Dust at Shakespeare and Co. (716 Broadway, New York, NY 10003) on Monday, Feb 10 at 7pm.”
Feb 12
Brussels, City of Refuge: Ali Amar (Brussels, Belgium):
The Moroccan author and journalist Ali Amar will be speaking at the City Hall of Brussels, where he will talk about censorship and red lines in Morocco.
Feb 13
Elias Khoury: Commitment and Beyond in Modern Arabic Literature (Providence, US)
Elias Khouri, the Global Distinguished Professor of Middle Eastern and Islamic Studies from New York University will speak from 5:00-6:30 p.m. at the Watson Institute, Joukowsky Forum. More on the event.
A round-table with Banipal-prize-winning translators Jonathan Wright & William M Hutchins (London, UK):
The roundtable, chaired by Prof. Yasir Suleiman, will “cover all aspects of Arabic Literary Translation and will be a stimulating and interesting opportunity for translators at different levels in their career and training, as well as students of literary translation to meet, discuss with and learn from two of the leading translators of contemporary Arabic fiction.” More about the event, which starts at 2 p.m. at the Arab British Centre.
Feb 14
An evening with Banipal-prize-winning translators Jonathan Wright & William M Hutchins (London, UK):
From Banipal: “We are delighted to invite you to celebrate the joint award to Jonathan Wright & William M Hutchins of the 2013 Saif Ghobash Banipal Prize for Arabic Literary Translation for their translations of Azazeel and A Land Without Jasmine.” 7 p.m. at The Gallery, Foyle’s Bookshop. 113-119 Charing Cross Road, London WC2H 0EB. More about the prize.
Feb 15
Deadline to apply for a Banff translators’ residency (global):
Applicants must have published at least one book-length literary translation or the equivalent thereof. Eligible projects include translations of works of fiction, literary non-fiction, poetry, children’s literature, oral tradition, and drama. More about how to apply.
Feb 20
Poetry from Iraq (London, England)
“The evening will start with a special preview screening of poetry films made by Roxana Vilkduring the Erbil Literature Festival, these films offer a glimpse into the lives of poets living and working in Iraq. Roxana Vilk will then discuss the process, experiences and the poets featured in these films with translator Lauren Pyott, chaired by Syrian actor and filmmaker Ammar Haj Ahmad. This will be followed by live readings from acclaimed Iraqi poet Adnan al-Sayegh in Arabic, with translatorStephen Watts reading in English.” Begins at 7 p.m. More on the event.
Feb 26
Lebanese novelist Rawi Hage attends a roundtable discussion at Colorado College (Colorado Springs, US)
From 7-9 p.m. More on the event.
Feb 28
Sinan Antoon at the 2014 Boston University Lecture Series in Literary Translation (Boston, US):
Most Friday afternoons from 1-3 p.m., Boston University will be hosting a series on literary translation with luminaries like Antoon, Fady Joudah, Ammiel Alcalay (March 21), and Susan Bernofsky (April 4). More on the events.
