Middle-east Arab News Opinion | Asharq Al-awsat

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A Palestinian book seller stands by his stall selling copies of the Qur’an as well as other books, in Rafah, southern Gaza.
(Said Khatib/AFP/Getty Images)

The Troubled Journey of the Palestinian Novel

by Raba'i Al-Madhoun | Dec 6, 2014 | Lifestyle & Culture

London, Asharq Al-Awsat—If you attempt to search for Gazan fiction, you may get lost in a maze of answers, some of which are clear and precise, while others are like the statements issued by Palestinian factions—ambiguous. Gaza has been under siege for seven years and...

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A Palestinian boy plays soccer as a mural depicts the Dome of the Rock and a map of British Mandate Palestine, on the gate of al-Sadaka club in Gaza City June 23, 2013. (REUTERS/Mohammed Salem)

Universal Themes in the Arabic Novel

by Raba'i Al-Madhoun | Jul 22, 2013 | Lifestyle & Culture

London, Asharq Al-Awsat—In the final part of this four-part series, Asharq Al-Awsat spoke with Selma Dabbagh, a British—Palestinian writer who writes in English and desribes herself as having little command of the Arabic language. Her novels are mainly set in the...

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Books are displayed at the annual Paris book fair March 14, 2008. (Reuters/Charles Platiau)

The American Reader Seeking the Arab “Other”

by Raba'i Al-Madhoun | Jul 21, 2013 | Lifestyle & Culture

London, Asharq Al-Awsat—It is hardly a stretch to say that over the last dozen years, Americans have had a tense and complicated relationship with Arabs and the Middle East. This has undoubtedly impacted the availability and popularity of Arabic novels in the United...

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A woman looks at books inside an exhibition hall during the 29th annual meeting of French Muslims organized by The Union of Islamic Organizations of France (UOIF) at Le Bourget, near Paris April 7, 2012. (Reuters/Gonzalo Fuentes)

The Arabic Novel and La Francophonie

by Raba'i Al-Madhoun | Jul 20, 2013 | Lifestyle & Culture

London, Asharq Al-Awsat—In considering the role of the Arabic novel in the West, it is important to remember both that not all Western countries are English-speaking; most notably, North Africa has longstanding cultural and linguistic ties with France, as well as a...

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File photo of books on a library shelf. (AFP Photo/Loic Venance)

The Arabic Novel in the West

by Raba'i Al-Madhoun | Jul 19, 2013 | Lifestyle & Culture

London, Asharq Al-Awsat—Does the Arabic novel enjoy popularity in the West? What is the proportion of those who read the Arabic novel in the West, in comparison to those who read Turkish, Afghan, or Indian novels? Just who is reading fiction translated from Arabic?...