Where to Start with Algerian Literature

Where to Start with Algerian Literature My favorite Algerian book critic, Dr. Nadia Ghanem, has  put together an overview of whos whoâ€"and whats whatâ€"when it comes to Algerian literature  in English. In total, she found around 100 books. The first French translation of an Algerian literary work was published in 1956. After that, the first Arabic translationâ€"of Taher Wattars The Earthquakeâ€"came in 2001. As of yet, no full-length Tamazight translation has appeared. In general, there is little Tamazight work in translation. The work of the Kabyle poet Ahcene Mariche is an exception, Ghanem says, thanks to friends who regularly translate his collections into English. Ghanems 99 books represent novels, memoirs, and poetry collections. Among these, a third have appeared since 2010. A Few More Observations Arabic literature in Algeria is vibrant, but severely underrepresented in English translation. While both genders are under-represented in Arabic, things get ridiculous when it comes to womens writing. Only  one  womans full-length works have been translated from Arabic to English: those of Ahlam Mostaghanemi. We did find another woman, Zhour Ounissi, who has a translated essay in a collection. Assuming you wont read all 99, Dr. Ghanem and I put together this list: a six-book start on Algerian literary prose. For a start at poetry, check out Words Without Borders January supplement, ed. Marilyn Hacker. 1. The Earthquake  by Tahar Wattar, tr. William Granara Dr. Ghanem says: anyone interested in 1960s and 1990s Algeria should read The Earthquake  by Tahar Wattar  and The Star of Algiers  by Aziz Chouaki. 2. The Star of Algiers  by Aziz Chouaki, tr.  Ros Schwartz and Lulu Norman The Star of Algiers is set in Algeria in 1990â€"91, just on cusp of the Algerian civil war. 3. Morituri  by Yasmina Khadra, tr. David Herman Yasmina Khadra is by far the most translated into English, and the works are…uneven. Indeed, Ghanem calls choosing among his works a game of Russian roulette. But, she adds, his Inspector Llob series, starting with Morituri,  is exceptionally well constructed and thoroughly entertaining. 4. The Obstinate Snail by Rachid Boudjedra, tr. Leon Stephens This is one of my favorites, brilliant absurdist humor. 5. Tomboy, Nina Bouraoui, tr.  Jehanne-Marie Gavarini and  Marjorie Attignol Salvodon According to Dr. Ghanem, Algerias only out lesbian writer. 6.  The Tongues Blood Does Not Run Dry by  Assia Djebar, tr. Tegan Raleigh Last, stories from the internationally acclaimed, unmissable Djebar. Ghanem told me to choose anything of Djebars, so these seven short stories are it.