Raja Alem’s book, “The Dove’s Necklace,” was among 16 Arabic novels on the long-list before it was whittled down to six.
Alem said she felt honored to be part of what she referred to as “a prize respected all over the world.”
“Focusing on 16, then six novels, in the Arab world, is like igniting a spark in a dead scene,” said Alem.
Alem’s novel Dove's Necklace was published in June 2010 and was the last to be nominated.
“I am against competing as a rule, but when my publisher suggested putting my book forward, I was motivated to achieve two goals, one of which is to support Booker’s cause and ensure its continuity, as achievements in the literary field are rarely recognized.”
The second reason, Alem explains, “is because ‘The Dove’s Necklace’ is my eulogy to the old Makkah. I would like to introduce the book’s message to as many readers as possible in the world”.
“The Dove’s Necklace” is a novel about a rare world that is dying. Makkah, according to Alem, is a city transformed and the book attempts to capture its last throes, its unique history and spiritual beauty and contrast these elements with its modern identity.
“It is more like a love letter to my city of birth, which has inspired almost all my books. I want this part of the world to reach the rest of the world and convey the city’s message,” says Alem.
Alem expressed amazement at how far the book’s message has traveled after “The Dove’s Necklace” was short-listed.
“Interested agents and intellectuals from all over the world are contacting me. This tells me such a prize brings Arabic literature into the spotlight of the whole world” she said, adding that Arabic literature has not been that successful in breaking through compared to, for example, Japanese and Indian literature.
Alongside Alem’s book, two books from Morocco, two Egypt and one from Sudan also made the shortlist. Each of the six writers will receive $10,000. “The shortlist represents, in the committee’s opinion, the great standards the modern Arabic novel has reached,” said head of the arbitration committee Fadel Al-Azzawi, adding that the committee did not take into consideration when selecting the shortlist the gender of the writers, their ages, religion nor the countries they came from.
The winner of the Arabic Booker Prize will be announced on the March 14, 2011 in Abu Dhabi. The winner will receive a prize of $50,000 along with contracts to publish the winning book in English and other languages.
The 2011 Booker Prize for Arabic Novels’ is organized under the sponsorship of the British Man Booker Prize Establishment with funding from Emirate social service benefits.
The prize was first awarded in 2008 to Egyptian writer Bahaa Taher. Egyptian writer Yousif Zidan won in 2009 while Saudi writer Abdo Khal won this year.
Started in 1969, the British Man Booker Prize is awarded to the best novel written in English by a citizen of the Commonwealth or the Republic of Ireland. Judges are selected from the country’s finest critics, writers, and academics to maintain the consistent excellence of the prize.
