Egypt, Elsewedy review progress on Ain Sokhna phosphate complex    US employment cost index 3.6% up in year to June 2025    Egypt welcomes Canada, Malta's decision to recognise Palestinian state    Pakistan says successfully concluded 'landmark trade deal' with US    Sterling set for sharpest monthly drop since 2022    Egypt, Brazil sign deal to boost pharmaceutical cooperation    Modon Holding posts AED 2.1bn net profit in H1 2025    Egypt's Electricity Ministry says new power cable for Giza area operational    Egypt's Al-Sisi, Italian defence minister discuss Gaza, security cooperation    Egypt's FM discusses Gaza, Nile dam with US senators    Aid airdrops intensify as famine deepens in Gaza amid mounting international criticism    Egypt exports first high-tech potato seeds to Uzbekistan after opening market    Health minister showcases AI's impact on healthcare at Huawei Cloud Summit    On anti-trafficking day, Egypt's PM calls fight a 'moral and humanitarian duty'    Egypt strengthens healthcare partnerships to enhance maternity, multiple sclerosis, and stroke care    Egypt keeps Gaza aid flowing, total tops 533,000 tons: minister    Indian Embassy to launch cultural festival in Assiut, film fest in Cairo    Egyptian aid convoy heads toward Gaza as humanitarian crisis deepens    Culture minister launches national plan to revive film industry, modernise cinematic assets    I won't trade my identity to please market: Douzi    Sisi sends letter to Nigerian president affirming strategic ties    Two militants killed in foiled plot to revive 'Hasm' operations: Interior ministry    Egypt, Somalia discuss closer environmental cooperation    Egypt's EHA, Huawei discuss enhanced digital health    Foreign, housing ministers discuss Egypt's role in African development push    Egypt reveals heritage e-training portal    Three ancient rock-cut tombs discovered in Aswan    Sisi launches new support initiative for families of war, terrorism victims    Egypt expands e-ticketing to 110 heritage sites, adds self-service kiosks at Saqqara    Egypt's Irrigation Minister urges scientific cooperation to tackle water scarcity    Palm Hills Squash Open debuts with 48 international stars, $250,000 prize pool    On Sport to broadcast Pan Arab Golf Championship for Juniors and Ladies in Egypt    Golf Festival in Cairo to mark Arab Golf Federation's 50th anniversary    Germany among EU's priciest labour markets – official data    Paris Olympic gold '24 medals hit record value    A minute of silence for Egyptian sports    Russia says it's in sync with US, China, Pakistan on Taliban    It's a bit frustrating to draw at home: Real Madrid keeper after Villarreal game    Shoukry reviews with Guterres Egypt's efforts to achieve SDGs, promote human rights    Sudan says countries must cooperate on vaccines    Johnson & Johnson: Second shot boosts antibodies and protection against COVID-19    Egypt to tax bloggers, YouTubers    Egypt's FM asserts importance of stability in Libya, holding elections as scheduled    We mustn't lose touch: Muller after Bayern win in Bundesliga    Egypt records 36 new deaths from Covid-19, highest since mid June    Egypt sells $3 bln US-dollar dominated eurobonds    Gamal Hanafy's ceramic exhibition at Gezira Arts Centre is a must go    Italian Institute Director Davide Scalmani presents activities of the Cairo Institute for ITALIANA.IT platform    







Thank you for reporting!
This image will be automatically disabled when it gets reported by several people.



Khalil Sweileh receives Naguib Mahfouz prize
Published in Almasry Alyoum on 12 - 12 - 2009

Yesterday, Syrian writer Khalil Sweileh received the 14th Naguib Mahfouz Medal for Literature for his novel Warraq al-Hubb (The Scribe of Love) in a grand celebration at the American University in Cairo (AUC).
The award ceremony took place in AUC's Oriental Hall and was attended by several Egyptian writers and previous recipients of the award, members of the Mahfouz family, and many distinguished personalities from Cairo's cultural and publishing scene.
The decision to award Sweileh the award was taken unanimously by members of the committee, which includes: Samia Mehrez, Abdel Moneim Tallima, Hoda Wasfy, Fakhri Saleh, Gaber Asfour, Mohamed Berrada and Mark Linz, director of AUC Press. When presenting the award, the judges described Warraq al-Hubb as a "truly intelligent novel" and Sweilah as a "storyteller who commands the art of narrative and intertextuality without ever losing sight of the core of his text."
The highlight of the ceremony was a lecture by the distinguished Egyptian scholar and critic Rashid el-Enany, who discussed the topic of Arab intellectuals and the West.
The English translation of Warraq al-Hubb is scheduled for publication in 2010 by the American University in Cairo Press, and will be simultaneously released in Cairo, New York and London.
Upon receiving the award, Sweileh delivered a beautiful speech rich with literary references that ended with the moving words, "I conjure up the image of the little boy that I was in a village on the edge of the desert, living in a mud brick house with no books except for the Holy Quran. One sizzling summer day, I found a tattered book by the hearth. Perhaps my mother had bought it to feed the fire. The book had no cover so I read its title on the first page, Abath al-Aqdar (Khufu's Wisdom) by a writer unknown to me at the time, Naguib Mahfouz. Today, I no longer recall the contents of the novel but perhaps it was Naguib Mahfouz who led me to my fateful doom. And perhaps the Naguib Mahfouz Medal for Literature will once more place me in front of an open goal - I, the unprepared and utterly terrified goalkeeper."
AUC Press also announced the English publication of two novels by Naguib Mahfouz, "The Mirage" (translated by Roger Allen) and "Before the Throne" (translated by Raymond Stock).
The award consists of a silver medal and a cash prize of $1000 is annually presented on December 11, the birthday of Naguib Mahfouz.
AUC Press, which established the Naguib Mahfouz Medal for Literature in 1996, has been the primary publisher of English translations of Naguib Mahfouz's work for more than 20 years. It has also published some 500 foreign language editions of the Nobel Laureate's works in 40 languages around the world since the author won the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1988.


Clic here to read the story from its source.