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Banipal Books
Announcement on COVID-19
Although lockdowns are easing off, there is still concern of upticks in the virus spread, and so we are continuing to work remotely. Meanwhile, all orders for the print editions of our books and for the Banipal magazines are being received as usual. Our distributor NBNi/IPS is open, working safely, and despatching all orders on our behalf. For books despatched within the UK, delivery is back to the usual quick turnround, while for orders outside the UK it is almost back to normal, apart from the special case of the EU – see above for those details. We are checking regularly with Royal Mail for any restrictions on mailing.
Stay safe and well. Get your vaccinations. If in doubt, wear your mask.
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Sarajevo Firewood
by Saïd KhatibiISBN: 978-1-913043-23-0
Paperback • eBook • 320pp
Sarajevo Firewood explores in fictional form the recent histories of two entwined countries, Algeria and Bosnia and Herzegovina, both suffering traumatic and devastating civil wars in the 1990s. A lasting memorial to the thousands of dead and ‘disappeared’ of both countries and those who were forced to flee.
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The Madness of Despair
by Ghalya F T Al SaidISBN: 978-1-913043-12-4 (PB) • 978-1-913043-21-6 (HB)
Pbk • Hbk • eBook • 256pp
Living in London, Nafie and his young wife Maliha become good friends with fellow exile Doctor Nadim, with unforeseen consequences for them all. A powerful narrative of psychological suffering and cultural displacement that upsets the very ordinary aspirations for life and love.
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Fadhil Al-Azzawi's Beautiful Creatures
by Fadhil al-AzzawiISBN: 978-1-913043-10-0 (Paperback)
Pbk • Hbk • eBook • 152pp
This work, first published in Arabic in 1969 to great acclaim, and now for the first time in English translation, was written in defiance of the “sanctity of genre” and to raise the question of freedom of expression in writing.
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Poems of Alexandria and New York
by Ahmed MorsiISBN: 978-1-913043-15-5
Paperback • ebook • 126pp
Ahmed Morsi’s first volume in English translation captures the modernity and empathy at the heart of all his works, his surrealistic humour, and his visions of the dramas of ordinary life.
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Mansi A Rare Man in His Own Way
by Tayeb SalihISBN: 978-0-9956369-8-9
Paperback • eBook • 184pp
"A flavourful and entertaining memoir of his friendship with a shape-shifting, rule-breaking character" – Boyd Tonkin
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The Mariner
by Taleb AlrefaiISBN: 978-0-9956369-8-9
Paperback • eBook • 160pp
Taleb Alrefai turns a spotlight on Kuwait’s pearl-fishing history in this enthralling fictional re-telling of the day the country’s famous shipmaster Captain Al-Najdi was lost at sea.
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Goat Mountain
by Habib SelmiISBN: 978-1-913043-04-9
Paperback • eBook • 92pp
Both formats available now
"This intense, glacial fantasy is the work of a literary master. At a subliminal level, it can be read as the intellectual’s despairing and suicidal attack on inhuman political power" – James Kirkup
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A Boat to Lesbos
by Nouri Al-JarrahISBN: 978-0-9956369-4-1
Paperback • 120pp • £9.99
Illustrated with 20 paintings by Reem Yassouf
First collection in English translation for Syrian poet Nouri Al-Jarrah. Translated from the Arabic by Camilo Gómez-Rivas and Allison Blecker.
An Iraqi In Paris
by Samuel ShimonISBN: 9780957442481
Paperback • 282pp • £9.99
A fully revised third edition in translation of this best-selling ‘gem of autobiographical writing’ in the Arab world, by an author who has been called ‘a relentless raconteur’, ‘a modern Odysseus’, ‘the Iraqi Don Quixote’.
Knife Sharpener
by Sargon BoulusISBN: 978-0-9549666-7-6
Paperback • 154pp • £7.99 • $15
These Selected Poems, translated from the Arabic by Sargon Boulus himself before his untimely passing, are a commemoration and celebration of him and his influential work. Plus tributes to him and a photographic memorial after he tragically passed away while the book was in progress
Shepherd of Solitude
by Amjad NasserISBN: 978-0-9549666-8-3
186pp • £7.95 • $15
Selected Poems, translated from the Arabic by Khaled Mattawa
Shepherd of Solitude is the first English collection for Jordanian poet Amjad Nasser, translated and introduced by the foremost translator of contemporary Arabic poetry, with the poems selected by poet and translator from the poet's Arabic volumes of 1979 to 2004.
Heavenly Life
by Ramsey NasrISBN: 978-0-9549666-9-0
180pp • £7.99 • €12 • $15
Selected Poems
First English-language collection for Ramsey Nasr, then Poet Laureate of the Netherlands.
Translated from the Dutch by David Colmer. Introduction by Victor Schiferli and Foreword by Ruth Padel
“With this collection Anglophone readers are introduced to a poet of global scope" – Marilyn Hacker
Mordechai's Moustache and his Wife's Cats, and other stories
by Mahmoud ShukairISBN: 978-0-9549666-3-8
Paperback • 124 pages • £7.99
The brilliantly observed clutter and comedy of everyday lives pushed up against an iron occupation and fighting for survival . . .
• Click here for the title story Mordechai's Moustache and his Wife's Cats
A Retired Gentleman, and other stories
by Issa J BoullataISBN: 978-0-9549666-6-9
Paperback • 120 pages • £7.99 • $15
From Palestine, Lebanon, Egypt and Syria. George, Kamal, Mayy, Abdullah, Nadia, William, all have to begin their lives again, learn how to deal with their memories, with their pasts . . .
Sardines and Oranges
by Tayeb Salih and 20 other North African authorsISBN: 978-0-9549666-1-4
Paperback • 222pp • £8.99 • $15
Short Stories from North Africa: Algeria, Egypt, Morocco, Sudan and Tunisia
Includes new works by authors well-known in the West – Tayeb Salih from Sudan, Mohamed Choukri from Morocco
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The Myrtle Tree
by Jad El HageISBN: 978-0-9549666-4-5
Paperback • 288 pages • £9.99 • $15
Enthralling and timely saga, set in a small Lebanese village, of a young family's attempt to thwart the onset of civil war
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Unbuttoning the Violin
by Mansoura Ez-Eldin, Joumana Haddad, Ala Hlehel, Abed IsmaelISBN: 978-0-9549666-2-1
Paperback • 128pp • £3.95
Poems and short stories by four young Arab authors celebrating their tour of the UK August 2006 with Banipal Live, a partnership of Banipal magazine with the British Council and The Reading Agency.
All Titles
Sarajevo Firewood
by Saïd Khatibi
The Madness of Despair
by Ghalya F T Al Said
Fadhil Al-Azzawi's Beautiful Creatures
by Fadhil al-Azzawi
Poems of Alexandria and New York
by Ahmed Morsi
Mansi A Rare Man in His Own Way
by Tayeb Salih
The Mariner
by Taleb Alrefai
Goat Mountain
by Habib Selmi
A Boat to Lesbos
by Nouri Al-Jarrah
An Iraqi In Paris
by Samuel Shimon
Knife Sharpener
by Sargon Boulus
Shepherd of Solitude
by Amjad Nasser
Heavenly Life
by Ramsey Nasr
Mordechai's Moustache and his Wife's Cats, and other stories
by Mahmoud Shukair
A Retired Gentleman, and other stories
by Issa J Boullata
Sardines and Oranges
by Tayeb Salih and 20 other North African authors
The Myrtle Tree
by Jad El Hage
Unbuttoning the Violin
by Mansoura Ez-Eldin, Joumana Haddad, Ala Hlehel, Abed Ismael
Mansi A Rare Man in His Own Way by Tayeb Saleh (Banipal Books, 2020)
Tayeb Salih
Goat Mountain by Habib Selmi
Habib Selmi, author of Goat Mountain and 3 times shortlisted for the IPAF
The Mariner by Taleb Alrefai (Banipal Books, 2020)
Taleb Alrefai, author of The Mariner
Digital images
Fadhil Al-Azzawi's Beautiful Creatures by Fadhil al-Azzawi (Banipal Books, 2021)
Fadhil al-Azzawi
Poems of Alexandria and New York by Ahmed Morsi (Banipal Books, 2021)
Digital Banipal promotion B67
Saïd Khatibi
Amjad Nasser (1955–2019)
Digital Banipal the full archive
Denys Johnson-Davies (1922–2017) 70 years translating Arabic literature
Mahmoud Shukair – see special feature of Banipal 70 (Spring 2021)
Ahmed Morsi, author of Poems of Alexandria and New York
Sarajevo Firewood
The Madness of Despair
LATEST NEWS
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Banipal Book Club
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Click image for Digital Trial – Banipal 53
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Check out Digital Banipal – so easy on an iPhone, iPad or any smartphone
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