Algerian wins Int. Prize for Arabic Fiction 2020, Egypt the most nominated

CAIRO - 14 April 2020: Algerian writer Abdel Wahab Esawy received the International Prize for Arabic Fiction (Booker Award) in the 13th edition, for his novel "The Spartan Diwan" published by Dar Mim for Publishing in Algeria.

It is the first time an Algerian novelist wins this award, and the second time an Algerian novel is short listed for the International Prize for Arabic Fiction (Booker Award).

Writers from Egypt and Lebanon were usually the most likely to be shortlisted, where Egypt made it to the shortlist thirteen times.

Egyptian writers who made it to the shortlist included Bahaa Taher, Makawi Saeed, Youssef Zidan (twice), Mohammad el-Bassati, Ezz el-Din Shukri Fashir, Nasser Iraq, Ahmed Murad, Mohammad Abdul Nabi, Miral al-Tahawi, Khaled el-Barry and Adel Esmat.

The Egyptian writers who made it to the award’s shortlist and won the prize include Bahaa Taher for the novel “Sunset Oasis” in 2008 and Youssef Zeidan for the novel “Azazel” in 2009.

Thirteen Arab writers from nine Arab countries were previously nominated for the International Prize for Arabic Fiction, with three awards granted to writers from Saudi Arabia, two for Egypt and Lebanon, and one for each of Jordan, Palestine, Tunisia, Kuwait, Iraq, and Morocco.

In 2008, Egyptian writer Bahaa Taher won the International Prize for Arabic Fiction in its first edition, for the novel “Sunset Oasis”.

In 2009, Egyptian writer Youssef Zeidan won the International Prize for Arabic Fiction in its second edition, for his novel “Azazel”.