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Banipal

バニパル

Banipal

Profile

Gender
Unknown
Born
1998-01-01 （London）
Nationality
United Kingdom
Languages
English
Residence History
London

Career

Occupations
Literary magazine, Publisher (periodical)
Active Years
1998-

Awards & Nominations

Works

Major Works

Banipal (journal)

1998 Literary magazine (translation & promotion)

An independent literary magazine dedicated to promoting contemporary Arab literature through English translations. Founded in London in 1998, published three times a year. Each issue often focuses on a specific region or theme and features works and interviews by numerous Arab authors. Co-sponsor of the Saif Ghobash–Banipal Prize for Arabic Literary Translation.

Translation of Arab literatureRegional/ country-specific issuesAuthor interviews

Bibliography

  • Issue 1 (1998) – Issue 69 (as of December 2020)

Style & Themes

Literary Style
Careful translation approach balancing literal and interpretive translationEditorial style emphasizing contextual essays and author interviews
Recurring Motifs
Migration and diasporaWar and memoryRegional culture and modern history

Legacy

Banipal is widely praised for bridging contemporary Arab literature to English-speaking readers. It has introduced many authors to English for the first time and, as co-sponsor of the Saif Ghobash–Banipal Prize, contributed to the promotion of Arabic literary translation. Critics and writers have lauded its role in bringing the diversity of Arab literature to a wider audience.

Archives

  • Official archive (archived snapshots on the Wayback Machine)

Quotes

  • "What Banipal has achieved for Arab literature and culture in its 21 issues is more important than all the work of all the Arab ministries of culture, which have almost completely failed to do anything for Arab culture. Banipal has enabled the English reader not only to read the works of Arab writers, but also to discover the real craft of modern Arab literature. We have only one real minister for Arab culture: Margaret Obank."
    Source: Fadhil Al Azzawi (quoted on Banipal website / promotional material)

Trivia

  • Founded: 1998
  • Founders: Margaret Obank and Samuel Shimon
  • Frequency: Three times a year
  • Based in: London, United Kingdom
  • ISSN: 1461-5363
  • Co-sponsor of the Saif Ghobash–Banipal Prize for Arabic Literary Translation