Yesterday, the American Literary Translators Association (ALTA) announced the longlists for the 2020 National Translation Awards (NTA) in Poetry and Prose. Two works translated from Arabic -- a novel and a collection of interlinked short stories -- made the twelve-book longlist for prose.
"Translation is not a field of instant (or even delayed) validation. Mostly we do the work and leave it in the proverbial drawer for months or years, or we send it out into the world and hear nothing (or just murmurs) back. So classroom work offers a nice change."
A few years ago, it was hard to find any contemporary children's literature translated to English from Arabic. Now, several new titles are being published each year. Here, a list of ten children's books translated from Arabic for young readers.
"This is the only award that could possibly matter to me, as anyone who has read 'When We Were Arabs' is well aware."
For those who might have missed some of our 2020 Women in Translation Month (#WiTMonth) coverage, a look back.
"I am very disciplined. I wake up early every morning and begin work on my own novels and poems. Then I take care of my cats and others' work."
On August 26, 2020, a group of 17 former winners, shortlistees, jury members, and former members of the International Prize for Arabic Fiction Board of Trustees called on the prize to stop accepting Emirati government funding, or any government funding, in light of the UAE-Israel "Abraham Accord" announced August 13, 2020.
Yet the thing that translates so easily about al-Khansa is her self-belief. It is quite easy for any of us in 2020 to imagine a woman poet being praised in such a meager way, "Not bad for someone with boobs." And responding with a sharp-tongued jab at a man's nether regions.
The Frightened Ones was shortlisted for the 2018 International Prize for Arabic Fiction; its English translation came out in the UK in April and was published in the US last week.
"Beirut / I dreamed you were invaded / and awoke to the noise of destruction"
“Let me hold you to my breast, / I have plenty of room. / Let me wash the dirt of misery off your soul.”
"There is very little Arabic poetry by women translated to English; for Women in Translation Month (#WiTMonth), we offer a brief look at ten poets. Of the women writers listed -- an eclectic list of personal favorites and by no means canon -- only one, Iman Mersal, has a collection traditionally published in English translation"
