![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/DVVW2DO5BJDFXGLCQSWWPWTQDY.jpg?smart=true&auth=86678f2baff5a585432d1e9626701dbaf087d5cdedf7eb9427537858479c5d6b&width=400&height=225)
Firewood of Sarajevo by Said Khatibi. Photo: Banipal Books
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/HNB5NKVYKTZDXOIY4DPW2MDJVU.jpg?smart=true&auth=87f1fade2d15e6737fc69f97714e407e1dab0c45a5a4c8918ed1ab913e8e4c9f&width=400&height=225)
Azazeel by Youssef Ziedan (Egypt).
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/K7UT267VGITCB2YV4BMHZ25EKI.jpg?smart=true&auth=3a7c78f18e8a883bd5a6a79a1fb63139881a91b9d9e57213e4c347db1fc1cd8c&width=400&height=225)
The Bamboo Stalk by Saud Al Sanousi (Kuwait).
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/MPMVGQUMLVLIZ5EUXQV5F4L7TE.jpg?smart=true&auth=b83ef5ea66b877175ef7c8229bf9931a4ed78ddc62950ba84ce3aee5d679ba13&width=400&height=225)
The Baghdad Clock by Shahad Al Rawi (Iraq).
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/JJUIUNLAJYUKVMNHRKBNYGT2KU.jpg?smart=true&auth=c6616b20de470224f8a62c8bd36bef10f8e70ee0db5ab75768e573f478d87949&width=400&height=225)
The Frightened Ones by Dima Wannous (Syria).
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/TXQ5JLH4AM77DZZ7MXKGX6FEKQ.jpg?smart=true&auth=faff520f07a5d3fee486d6b8449b0d02bd58773250ce2c54c2406d9f7ba4749c&width=400&height=225)
Frankenstein in Baghdad' by Ahmed Saadawi (Iraq).
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/LO3P3HGKHDLLMIEFRBBVSKQ35M.jpg?smart=true&auth=6f986c97a4917ea3bdf8c4e9515f8e90c440af58390abfbb89aca8b9e4315da9&width=400&height=225)
A Rare Blue Bird that Flies With Me by Youssef Fadel (Morocco).
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/2GUKKMDZGB4JQ24R2UC4V7KXJ4.jpg?smart=true&auth=47cc98c277a3dd57f193eca6914e58122b4a8cd61877d6657c9371a753e04db6&width=400&height=225)
The Night Mail by Hoda Barakat (Lebanon).
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/ZXBF3AXEEZ2DNH6DYVAMHCZW7A.jpg?smart=true&auth=0a3c64e1d01d27495b1dde7efa8749cb6b8afce137ae3f7ed7c6e4586e50b799&width=400&height=225)
Embrace on Brooklyn Bridge by Ezzedine Choukri Fishere (Egypt).
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/27VK5TFU6YAMVTFCDWE2VK2N6Q.jpg?smart=true&auth=bf806860b61c216488f4b895c76b99c9813a01f8ddbbcd3360cb4ff13fe1a860&width=400&height=225)
In Praise of Hatred by Khaled Khalifa (Syria).
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/WB4ZCA5FA7EBCHHMVIJFFLX57M.jpg?smart=true&auth=ab91d48ecc6a54a2c145e5e16ac71694f9ca43858bd59e2d8f4c81aa01f77efe&width=400&height=225)
June Rain by Jabbour Douaihy (Lebanon).
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/SXTKG4YS4OT2OFF36SRGT26K7M.jpg?smart=true&auth=1ad5c2b4fd1e021554222efd3d1a64c659b8e022bfeca1652c17829633c9deaa&width=400&height=225)
The Longing of the Dervish by Hammour Ziada (Sudan).
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/I33UAU2FQ5FUFBNWLKMLOMK774.jpg?smart=true&auth=9d6293cb778e833694336701da43b9e9de2d0a19d9e91890808dc2ee9bf1fd22&width=400&height=225)
The Dispersal (Tashari) by Inaam Kachachim, Translated by Inam Jaber. Photo: Simon & Schuster
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/WRRWK2ZP4BBBXN3GDACZU3U6SQ.jpg?smart=true&auth=6258bc09fd0c9ab36506dd0c61e443265dce507cb9de90428780d80cf78167b8&width=400&height=225)
The Secrets of Folder 42 by Abdelmajid Sebbata. Photo: Banipal Books
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/ZP6VZTCPRBAUPBE3PNW5GGU4JE.jpg?smart=true&auth=59db91acfb3c4a77315507386e17d077c0766a2323f49ae6b27579b0454a3328&width=400&height=225)
The Slave Yards by Najwa Bin Shatwan (Author), Nancy Roberts (Translator). Photo: Syracuse University Press
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/LPDTLQ3QDNEFXKNJTRSOMR4DWE.jpg?smart=true&auth=8c9aa4cfe384c192acbc8a896fa30a40c7235f5fc5fbf1d234485e607132e606&width=400&height=225)
Ibn Arabi's Small Death by Mohammed Hasan Alwan. Photo: Center for Middle Eastern Studies UT-Austin
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/DBPDUFPPKRGZPKATDNUBX2EE74.jpg?smart=true&auth=3064b314a823249a2c1975af8eca8dba48648a0063ab477e768e4ac06e5b4df8&width=400&height=225)
A Sky So Close to Us By Shahla Ujayli, Translated by Michelle Hartman. Photo: Simon & Schuster
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/LSC4IWFO35ELFNVP257DZ2UN24.jpg?smart=true&auth=7d26b9c6f7fe90fa0d4a30322db8629edfa2cbf64c158a14d75ab850b832cc95&width=400&height=225)
The Old Woman and the River By Ismail Fahad Ismail, Translated by Sophia Vasalou. Photo: Simon & Schuster
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/NQNMBDHRLVBX5OBO3GMK6CUOHM.jpg?smart=true&auth=489d373f5e33e4689e140b74a970884b9acf0b1e4d3e5da33290c5530480894d&width=400&height=225)
The Bird Tattoo By Dunya Mikhail. Photo: Simon & Schuster
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/DVVW2DO5BJDFXGLCQSWWPWTQDY.jpg?smart=true&auth=86678f2baff5a585432d1e9626701dbaf087d5cdedf7eb9427537858479c5d6b&width=400&height=225)
Firewood of Sarajevo by Said Khatibi. Photo: Banipal Books
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/HNB5NKVYKTZDXOIY4DPW2MDJVU.jpg?smart=true&auth=87f1fade2d15e6737fc69f97714e407e1dab0c45a5a4c8918ed1ab913e8e4c9f&width=400&height=225)
Azazeel by Youssef Ziedan (Egypt).
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/K7UT267VGITCB2YV4BMHZ25EKI.jpg?smart=true&auth=3a7c78f18e8a883bd5a6a79a1fb63139881a91b9d9e57213e4c347db1fc1cd8c&width=400&height=225)
The Bamboo Stalk by Saud Al Sanousi (Kuwait).
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/MPMVGQUMLVLIZ5EUXQV5F4L7TE.jpg?smart=true&auth=b83ef5ea66b877175ef7c8229bf9931a4ed78ddc62950ba84ce3aee5d679ba13&width=400&height=225)
The Baghdad Clock by Shahad Al Rawi (Iraq).
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/JJUIUNLAJYUKVMNHRKBNYGT2KU.jpg?smart=true&auth=c6616b20de470224f8a62c8bd36bef10f8e70ee0db5ab75768e573f478d87949&width=400&height=225)
The Frightened Ones by Dima Wannous (Syria).
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/TXQ5JLH4AM77DZZ7MXKGX6FEKQ.jpg?smart=true&auth=faff520f07a5d3fee486d6b8449b0d02bd58773250ce2c54c2406d9f7ba4749c&width=400&height=225)
Frankenstein in Baghdad' by Ahmed Saadawi (Iraq).
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/LO3P3HGKHDLLMIEFRBBVSKQ35M.jpg?smart=true&auth=6f986c97a4917ea3bdf8c4e9515f8e90c440af58390abfbb89aca8b9e4315da9&width=400&height=225)
A Rare Blue Bird that Flies With Me by Youssef Fadel (Morocco).
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/2GUKKMDZGB4JQ24R2UC4V7KXJ4.jpg?smart=true&auth=47cc98c277a3dd57f193eca6914e58122b4a8cd61877d6657c9371a753e04db6&width=400&height=225)
The Night Mail by Hoda Barakat (Lebanon).
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/ZXBF3AXEEZ2DNH6DYVAMHCZW7A.jpg?smart=true&auth=0a3c64e1d01d27495b1dde7efa8749cb6b8afce137ae3f7ed7c6e4586e50b799&width=400&height=225)
Embrace on Brooklyn Bridge by Ezzedine Choukri Fishere (Egypt).
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/27VK5TFU6YAMVTFCDWE2VK2N6Q.jpg?smart=true&auth=bf806860b61c216488f4b895c76b99c9813a01f8ddbbcd3360cb4ff13fe1a860&width=400&height=225)
In Praise of Hatred by Khaled Khalifa (Syria).
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/WB4ZCA5FA7EBCHHMVIJFFLX57M.jpg?smart=true&auth=ab91d48ecc6a54a2c145e5e16ac71694f9ca43858bd59e2d8f4c81aa01f77efe&width=400&height=225)
June Rain by Jabbour Douaihy (Lebanon).
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/SXTKG4YS4OT2OFF36SRGT26K7M.jpg?smart=true&auth=1ad5c2b4fd1e021554222efd3d1a64c659b8e022bfeca1652c17829633c9deaa&width=400&height=225)
The Longing of the Dervish by Hammour Ziada (Sudan).
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/I33UAU2FQ5FUFBNWLKMLOMK774.jpg?smart=true&auth=9d6293cb778e833694336701da43b9e9de2d0a19d9e91890808dc2ee9bf1fd22&width=400&height=225)
The Dispersal (Tashari) by Inaam Kachachim, Translated by Inam Jaber. Photo: Simon & Schuster
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/WRRWK2ZP4BBBXN3GDACZU3U6SQ.jpg?smart=true&auth=6258bc09fd0c9ab36506dd0c61e443265dce507cb9de90428780d80cf78167b8&width=400&height=225)
The Secrets of Folder 42 by Abdelmajid Sebbata. Photo: Banipal Books
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/ZP6VZTCPRBAUPBE3PNW5GGU4JE.jpg?smart=true&auth=59db91acfb3c4a77315507386e17d077c0766a2323f49ae6b27579b0454a3328&width=400&height=225)
The Slave Yards by Najwa Bin Shatwan (Author), Nancy Roberts (Translator). Photo: Syracuse University Press
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/LPDTLQ3QDNEFXKNJTRSOMR4DWE.jpg?smart=true&auth=8c9aa4cfe384c192acbc8a896fa30a40c7235f5fc5fbf1d234485e607132e606&width=400&height=225)
Ibn Arabi's Small Death by Mohammed Hasan Alwan. Photo: Center for Middle Eastern Studies UT-Austin
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/DBPDUFPPKRGZPKATDNUBX2EE74.jpg?smart=true&auth=3064b314a823249a2c1975af8eca8dba48648a0063ab477e768e4ac06e5b4df8&width=400&height=225)
A Sky So Close to Us By Shahla Ujayli, Translated by Michelle Hartman. Photo: Simon & Schuster
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/LSC4IWFO35ELFNVP257DZ2UN24.jpg?smart=true&auth=7d26b9c6f7fe90fa0d4a30322db8629edfa2cbf64c158a14d75ab850b832cc95&width=400&height=225)
The Old Woman and the River By Ismail Fahad Ismail, Translated by Sophia Vasalou. Photo: Simon & Schuster
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/NQNMBDHRLVBX5OBO3GMK6CUOHM.jpg?smart=true&auth=489d373f5e33e4689e140b74a970884b9acf0b1e4d3e5da33290c5530480894d&width=400&height=225)
The Bird Tattoo By Dunya Mikhail. Photo: Simon & Schuster
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/DVVW2DO5BJDFXGLCQSWWPWTQDY.jpg?smart=true&auth=86678f2baff5a585432d1e9626701dbaf087d5cdedf7eb9427537858479c5d6b&width=400&height=225)
Firewood of Sarajevo by Said Khatibi. Photo: Banipal Books
Twenty of the best Arabic novels that are available in English
International Prize for Arabic Fiction administrator Fleur Montanaro shares her favourite regional reads
![Saeed Saeed](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/https%3A%2F%2Fs3.amazonaws.com%2Farc-authors%2Fthenational%2Fdfd6c0d0-f148-4163-b51c-fe3b293b0f9d.png?smart=true&auth=fbad4a9efbd3b8c272380498534cedd4e4b64afad5f5593a426d913b1da43080&width=70&height=70)
Saeed Saeed
27 April, 2024
- Listen In English
- Listen In Arabic