Omani author first in Arabian Gulf to be shortlisted for prestigious literary prize

Jokha Alharthi’s book Celestial Bodies
, translated from the original Omani novel Sayyidat al-Qamar
, has been shortlisted from amongst 13 books that have been previously longlisted for the 2019 Prize.

Jokha’s literary achievement is extraordinary as she is the first writer from the Arabian Gulf to have been longlisted. Getting shortlisted with 5 other writers has been unprecedented for any writer from the Arabian Gulf.

This year’s Man Booker International Prize shortlist functions six books translated from 5 languages, hailing from 5 nations and 3 continents, but only 1 male writer alongside 5 female authors and an all-female list of translators.

The shortlist of the six books in contention for the 2019 prize, which celebrates the finest operates of translated fiction from about the planet, was revealed on Tuesday April 9, in London. The £50,000 prize for the winning book, which will be announced on May 21, will be divided equally among its author and translator.

Information Source: Muscat Daily