From Kawther Al-Jahmi’s ‘A Son of the Country’
The novel poses a question about identity: Is it a piece of paper, or a sense of belonging?
Libya
‘He Dies for As Long As Possible’
This short piece appeared, in a slightly different form, in the SONG issue of ArabLit Quarterly in the Spring of 2021.
‘The Desert Also Keened’
Ibrahim al-Koni’s “The Desert Also Keened” was the winner of the 2023 ArabLit Story Prize in Dima El Mouallem’s translation.
Kawthar Al-Jahmi’s Journey: From ‘Bint Tripoli’ to Award-winning Novelist
Today, Kawthar al-Jahmi talks about her writing and reading journeys, the role of literary prizes, submitting her novel to the publisher a day before giving birth, and developing a writing practice while working and raising children.
From Najwa Bin Shatwan’s ‘Tree of Soap’
Libyan writer Najwa Binshatwan’s latest novel, شجرة الصابون (Tree of Soap, Dar Arab 2026) unfolds with her signature sarcastic-surrealism. In this world, the State encourages citizens to express themselves, ensures their participation, and provides them everything necessary to practice democracy. Nothing is forced, exactly; it’s just that absence is unwelcome and silence requires explanation.
New Short Fiction from Libya: ‘The Italian Doctor’
The Italian Doctor By Mohamad Alarechya Translated by Azza Hasson “I failed to cut my nails today, my hand wouldn’t move, and I was out of cigarettes. I couldn’t stand […]
On an Award-Winning Novel & the Unstable Literary Scene in Libya
By Olivia Snaije When the Libyan writer Mohammed Alnaas won the 2022 International Prize for Arabic Fiction (IPAF) for his debut novel Bread on Uncle Milad’s Table (Meskliniai Publishers & […]
On Translating a Novel of ‘Profound Gentleness in a Violent Milieu’
By Olivia Snaije Libyan novelist Mohammed Alnaas recently visited France for the launch of his award-winning debut novel’s French translation: Du pain sur la table d’oncle Milad (خبز على طاولة […]
9 Short Texts by Libyan Women, in Translation
This week’s list — of short works by Libyan women writers — couldn’t focus solely on short stories in translation, or even on excerpts of prose. This week, we’ve also included two poems.