Iraqi novelist Mortada Gzar — contributor to the recent collection Iraq + 100, participant in the Iowa Writers’ Workshop, and author of the acclaimed Mr. Azger Akbar (2013) — writes, in his latest novel, about a man who supervised the animals belonging to a son of Saddam Hussein.
“We’re starting a comic zine collective called ZEEZ! 5 young comic artists and myself – based in Beirut, are starting a collective to produce zines seasonally. We’re hoping to launch our first work in June!”
“Unfortunately, not all the works that deserve to be translated reach this goal, and Arabs have a responsibility in this. Our national cultural institutions don’t make any effort to promote our literature.”
“Moroccan poet and memoirist Abdellatif Laâbi’s In Praise of Defeat, translated from the French by Donald Nicholson-Smith, also made the poetry longlist.”
The afternoon and evening readings, a joint venture of English PEN and the Enemies Project, begin at 2 p.m. and run through 9:30 that night.
Another, related aspect that is very important for us is Ricoeur’s definition of translation as “linguistic hospitality,” a practice that prompts you to go toward the other before inviting the other to your own home. In this sense translation represents a model for other types of hospitalities.
“The bitter edge of the blustery cold softened as the fog dropped over the land, thick as a felt saddle blanket. The mountain paths and ravines were no longer distinguishable, making it impossible to guess how much distance remained ahead. Features of the landscape known popularly as the Frenchmen’s Chamber, Deaf-mute’s Crevice, St Severin’s Elbow, the Cross of the Sacred Heart, had all vanished.”
“Medium-term goals include book fairs in schools, prisons, and refugee camps. The project’s long-term goals include a radio show and a museum for rare Arabic books.”
The winners were announced by Palestinian writer Ghassan Zaqtan, one of last year’s three laureates.
