"Narrative Summit" Releases 2025 Recommendations to Cement Egypt's Position as a Global Tourism Destination    Egypt, S.Arabia step up trade ties through coordination council talks    Egypt reviews progress on $200m World Bank-funded waste management hub    Egypt urges Israel to accept Gaza deal amid intensifying fighting    Egypt, ADIB explore strategic partnership in digital healthcare, investment    SCZONE, Tokyo Metropolitan Government sign MoU on green hydrogen cooperation    Egypt welcomes international efforts for peace in Ukraine    Al-Sisi, Macron reaffirm strategic partnership, coordinate on Gaza crisis    Contact Reports Strong 1H-2025 on Financing, Insurance Gains    Egypt, India's BDR Group in talks to establish biologics, cancer drug facility    AUC graduates first cohort of film industry business certificate    Egyptian pound down vs. US dollar at Monday's close – CBE    Egypt's FM, Palestinian PM visit Rafah crossing to review Gaza aid    Egypt prepares unified stance ahead of COP30 in Brazil    Egypt recovers collection of ancient artefacts from Netherlands    Egypt harvests 315,000 cubic metres of rainwater in Sinai as part of flash flood protection measures    Egypt, Namibia explore closer pharmaceutical cooperation    Fitch Ratings: ASEAN Islamic finance set to surpass $1t by 2026-end    Renowned Egyptian novelist Sonallah Ibrahim dies at 88    Egyptian, Ugandan Presidents open business forum to boost trade    Al-Sisi says any party thinking Egypt will neglect water rights is 'completely mistaken'    Egypt's Sisi warns against unilateral Nile measures, reaffirms Egypt's water security stance    Egypt's Sisi, Uganda's Museveni discuss boosting ties    Egypt, Huawei explore healthcare digital transformation cooperation    Egypt's Sisi, Sudan's Idris discuss strategic ties, stability    Egypt to inaugurate Grand Egyptian Museum on 1 November    Greco-Roman rock-cut tombs unearthed in Egypt's Aswan    Egypt reveals heritage e-training portal    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    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.



Taher celebrates 'Oasis' translation in England
Published in Daily News Egypt on 25 - 08 - 2009

Internationally acclaimed Egyptian writer Bahaa Taher is currently in England celebrating the release of the English translation of his novel, "Sunset Oasis.
The current bestseller, "Oasis is the recipient of the first International Prize for Arabic Fiction, known as the Arabic Booker Prize.
The book was translated by Humphrey Davies, the first prize winner of the annual Banipal Prize for Arabic Literary Translation in 2006. Davie has translated several acclaimed Arabic novels, including Alaa Al-Aswany's "The Yacoubian Building and Naguib Mahfouz's "Thebes at War.
"Sunset Oasis is published by Sceptre, the literary imprint of Hodder and Stoughton publishing house. Davies's translation was also released in Canada by McClelland and Stewart publishing house.
According to Al-Shorouk, the daily newspaper of Taher's publishing house Dar Al Shorouk, the forward note of the book boasts quotes from literary figures such as English writer Margaret Drabble, The Independent's culture editor, Brandon Robshaw, and Michael Holroyd, editor at the Guardian UK.
"Sunset Oasis, Taher's sixth novel, will also be translated into a number of other languages, including French, German, Greek, Romanian and Bosnian. "Oasis is Taher's fourth translated novel after "Aunt Saffiya and the Monastery, "Love in Exile and "As Doha Said.
Born in 1935 in Cairo, Taher graduated from Cairo University's faculty of literature in 1956. He then embarked on a career in broadcasting alongside writing.
In 1975, during Sadat's attempt to wipe out any traces of communism left over from Nasser's era, Taher was blacklisted and eventually left Egypt in 1976. He worked as a freelance translator, trotting the globe for a number of years until he settled in Geneva in 1981.
Taher spent three years writing "Sunset Oasis.
"I predicted it would be an important novel that would grab attention, but not to the extent that it would win international prizes, he said.
Although the novel is set shortly after the Orabi revolution, several themes and characters bear a close resemblance to present day Egypt. "Any writer cannot escape or detach completely from the time they are living in, he said.
"Sunset Oasis stands as an accumulation of a lifetime of tactfully exploring human nature and the distinctive elements that make up the Egyptian character.
Although critics have praised "Oasis for shedding a new light on the ever-present relationship between the East and the West, Taher has continuously distanced himself from these claims.
"I have said this 100 times before, I never thought about the whole East and West issue. These are fictional characters - one of which happened to be from the East and the other from the West - and none of them is representing their race or country or culture, he said.
"Whoever knows me well enough knows that I never generalize, so a western character in any novel doesn't symbolize the West by any means, he said.
Taher is heading to Scotland next to participate in the Edinburgh International Book Festival, one of the largest book fairs in the world. He will be joined by revered Lebanese author Elias Khoury who will be giving a reading of "Sunset Oasis while Taher will give a reading of Khoury's novel, "Yalo.


Clic here to read the story from its source.