Tag: Arab Writers and Authors

LIBYAN-AMERICAN: Hisham Matar’s powerful Memoir ‘The Return’ Chronicles a haunting journey

“The Return” is a meditation on human condition, an exploration of the bonds of family.

In his poignant and deeply affecting memoir, “The Return,” Hisham Matar invites readers on a journey into the heart of his native Libya, a journey marked by love, loss, and the relentless pursuit of truth.

As the acclaimed author of “In the Country of Men,” Matar brings his exquisite storytelling prowess to bear on the exploration of his own family’s harrowing ordeal amid the turbulent political landscape of their homeland.

The narrative begins with a pivotal moment in Matar’s life, when at the tender age of nineteen, his world was shattered by the abduction of his father, a courageous man. The elder Matar’s disappearance cast a long shadow over the family, leaving them grappling with uncertainty and anguish.

Yet, amid the darkness, Matar clung to a flicker of hope, a stubborn belief that his father may yet be found. It is this unwavering hope that propels him forward, driving him to embark on a decades-long quest for answers.

Against the backdrop of upheaval and societal transformation, Matar chronicles his return to Libya, a homeland he once fled as a child. With his mother and wife by his side, he confronts the ghosts of his past and navigates the complexities of a country in flux.

Through evocative prose and piercing insight, Matar captures the essence of a nation on the cusp of profound change, grappling with the weight of its history and the promise of its future.

“The Return” transcends the confines of a mere memoir; it is a meditation on the human condition, an exploration of the enduring bonds of family and the resilience of the human spirit.

Nature of love and loss

Matar’s storytelling takes the readers to the heart of Libya, immersing them in its sights, sounds, and emotions. With each turn of the page, we are drawn deeper into the labyrinth of Matar’s inner world, as he grapples with questions of identity, belonging, and the nature of love and loss.

At its core, “The Return” is a testament to the power of storytelling to illuminate the darkest corners of our collective experience, offering solace, catharsis, and ultimately, redemption.

Matar paints a poignant portrait of the human spirit’s capacity to endure and find solace in the face of uncertainty. Beyond mere memoir, “The Return” stands as a testament to the strength of hope, offering inspiration to all who confront life’s tribulations.

source/content: gulfnews.com /ahmad nazir (headline edited)

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pix: wikipedia.com

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AMERICAN / LIBYAN

IRAQI Writer Abdul Rahman Majeed Al-Rubaie

Iraqi writer Abdul Rahman Majeed Al-Rubaie passes away at 83.

The news was confirmed by his friend and fellow writer, Waheed Al-Taweelah, who shared his condolences on Facebook.

Born in Nasiriyah, Iraq, in 1939, Al-Rubaie was considered one of Iraq’s most important contemporary writers.

He was known for his honest and emotionally rich depictions of the human condition in Iraq.

He authored several novels, short stories, plays, and poems that focused on themes of social justice, political commentary, and everyday struggles in Iraq.

Al-Rubaie was a versatile artist who practiced teaching, journalism, and diplomatic work in Lebanon and Tunisia.

He was also a member of the Iraqi Writers Union, the Journalists Syndicate in Iraq, and the Fine Artists Association in Iraq.

His acclaimed novel Al-Washm [The Tattoo], excerpted in Banipal No 17, has been reprinted six times in Morocco but was never published in Saddam’s Iraq.

Al-Rubaie’s contributions to Iraqi literature were widely acclaimed, and he received numerous awards and accolades throughout his life.

In addition to his acclaimed novels, such as “Tattoos” and “Rivers,” Al-Rubaie also wrote plays that were staged in Iraq and abroad.

His play “The City of Strangers” was performed in Baghdad in the 1970s and was later staged in Tunisia and Lebanon.

Another play, “The Game of Assassination,” was performed in Baghdad in 1985 and explored the dark side of Iraqi politics.

Al-Rubaie’s poetry was equally celebrated.

His collections such as “For Love and the Impossible” and “Shahryar Sailing” showcase his lyrical and reflective style.

His poetry often delved into themes of love, loss, and the beauty of the natural world.

Throughout his career, Al-Rubaie was a strong advocate for freedom of expression and the power of literature to promote social change.

He was vocal about the importance of writers and intellectuals in shaping public discourse, and he often used his writing to challenge prevailing attitudes and norms.

Al-Rubaie’s work has been translated into several languages and has received critical acclaim both in Iraq and abroad.

His contributions to Iraqi literature have left an indelible mark on the country’s cultural landscape.

source/contents: english.ahram.org.eg (headline edited)

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Iraqi writer Abdul Rahman Majeed Al-Rubaie

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IRAQ

YEMEN: Yemeni Writer Ali Al-Muqri Conferrd with France’s Knight of the Order of Arts and Letters

France has made the Yemeni writer Ali Al-Muqri a knight of the French Order of Arts and Letters.

Al-Muqri recently received a letter from Roselyne Bachelot-Narquin, the French minister of culture, telling him that he was among the honorees chosen as members of the order this year.

Al-Muqri has been living in France at the invitation of the Arab World Institute since 2015, after fleeing the war in his home country. He had lived in Sana’a, the capital, which is now controlled by the Houthi rebel movement. People close to Al-Muqri have warned him he risked being pursued by the Houthis if he returned to Yemen.

The Order of Arts and Letters, one of four “ministerial orders” in France, is awarded to people who have distinguished themselves through artistic or literary creation or by contributing to the influence of arts and letters in France and the world. It has three ranks: commander, officer, and knight (chevalier).

Al-Muqri said in a telephone interview with Al-Fanar Media that he had not been aware of his candidacy for this order and was surprised by the letter.

He believes that his being named for the prestigious French order is “a tribute to Arabic literature, and a reward for writing a literary work that has its own narrative and cultural characteristics.”

He said Arabic literature was marginalized because it was rarely translated and he hoped his award would shed more light on it.

Novels and Prize Nominations

Ali Al-Muqri began his literary career as a cultural editor for several Yemeni publications before beginning to write prose, poetry and novels himself. His works have been translated into French, English, Italian, Kurdish and Persian.

He has published more than ten books, among them the novels “Black Taste, Black Odour” (2008), “The Handsome Jew” ( 2009), and “Hurma” ( 2012), “Adani Incense” (2014), and “The Leader’s Country” (2019).

“Black Taste, Black Odour” and “The Handsome Jew” were longlisted for the International Prize for Arabic Fiction in 2009 and 2011, and “Hurma”, in its French translation, won an honourable mention from the Arab World Institute Prize for Fiction and the French prize for Arabic literature.  “Adani Incense” was shortlisted for the 2015 Sheikh Zayed Book Award.

Between Home and Exile

Despite his years in self-imposed exile in Paris and his freedom to write, “far from the  guilt feelings that affected his literary works,” Al-Muqri said he still “experiences the hardships of alienation far from his homeland.”

“I live in double exile, and I miss every detail of my life in Yemen,” he said. “Where is the writing corner in my house in Sana’a, where I used to write my literary works, my books piled around me? I miss my habits and my rituals that were the primary motivator and the inspiration for my writing.”

Al-Muqri said that particular places in Yemen and the way of eating and drinking there gave a feeling of continuity that he misses.

The issues of Yemeni life inspired more than one of his novels, which he attributes to his constant endeavor to “explore the human self and evoke the causes of its anxiety through exposure to the problems facing people, whether they are in freedom of expression or because of discrimination against a person because of his colour, his sexual identity or because he was marginalized by a dictatorial authority.”

Al-Muqri said that he could write more in Yemen than he can in France. The war took him forcefully from his country and made him feel alienated and unable to get hold of the things that inspired and motivated him to write.

But that feeling has not prevented his ability to integrate with French society, he said.  Thanks to his personal experience and knowledge of European culture, he has been able to adapt and engage in his new life in the host country.

Yemeni Literature in Wartime

Al-Muqri said most Yemeni writers and authors had lost their jobs because of the war and many of them had resorted to other types of work so they could continue to live.

Most were no longer able to obtain the basic requirements of life, such as electricity, clean water, or a regular salary. Al-Muqri said the absence of these things “makes any writer or author unable to write and think.”

The war has greatly hindered literary life in his country, Al-Muqri said, but it remains active despite the restrictions and censorship imposed by the authorities.

Al-Muqri said he was working on a new novel. He hopes to continue writing “in freedom and safety” and to return to Yemen after the situation stabilizes.

Related Reading

source/content: al-fanarmedia.org

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Ali Al-Muqri has lived in France since 2015. He hopes the honour he has won there will draw more attention to Arabic literature in translation. (Photo courtesy of Ali Al-Maqri)

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YEMEN