A $50,000 prize styling itself as the Arabic Booker has been awarded for the first time. At a ceremony in Abu Dhabi last night, the inaugural International Prize for Arabic Fiction went to Egyptian author Baha Taher for his novel Sunset Oasis.The award, which aims to boost the international profile of literary fiction in Arabic, [...]
11/03/2008
A prize in Abu Dhabi is helping to restore a sense of Arab pride
For decades, much of the Arab world has liked to look down on the countries of the Gulf, writing them off as all oil and gas – and no gravitas. However, as a result of energetic leadership and a number of creative initiatives, that view is gradually changing, and the effects are making themselves felt [...]
