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Maia Tabet

マイア・タベト

Maia Tabet

Profile

Gender
Female
Born
1956 （Beirut, Lebanon）
Nationality
Lebanon
Languages
Arabic, English
Residence History
Grew up in Beirut (Lebanon) → Grew up in India → Grew up in England → United States (resides) → Cyprus (resides)

Career

Occupations
Arabic-English literary translator, Editor, Journalist
Active Years
1989-

Education

American University of Beirut
Philosophy and Political Science
Country: Lebanon
Studied philosophy and political science (details unknown)

Awards

Saif Ghobash–Banipal Prize for Arabic Literary Translation
2011
Work: White Masks (translation of Elias Khoury)
Organization: Banipal / Saif Ghobash Foundation
Result: 審査員推薦

Awards & Nominations

Works

Major Works

Little Mountain

1989 Novel

Translation of a novel by Elias Khoury dealing with war, memory and collective trauma; notable as an early English translation of Khoury's work.

WarMemoryIdentity

White Masks

2010 Novel

Translation of a long novel by Elias Khoury. The English translation was nominated for the 2011 Saif Ghobash–Banipal Prize and received a judges' commendation.

MemoryHistoryIndividual and society

Throwing Sparks (co-translated)

2010 Novel

Co-translation (with Michael K. Scott) of a controversial novel by Saudi writer Abdo Khal. The original work was associated with the 2010 International Prize for Arabic Fiction.

CensorshipReligion and societyContemporary Arab society

The Baghdad Eucharist

2017 Novel

Translation of a work by Sinan Antoon, published in English by AUC Press/Hoopoe.

WarFaithUrban memory

The Monotonous Chaos of Existence

2022 Short story collection

Translation and publication of a short story collection by Jordanian author Hisham Bustani, introducing his poetic and political perspective to English readers.

Personal experiencePoliticsIdentity

Camera Obscura (in production)

Novel

Translation of Rula al-Jurdi's first novel is reported to be in production with Syracuse University Press.

Children of the Dew (forthcoming, co-translation)

Book-length translation

Forthcoming co-translation (with Anaheed al-Hardan) of a work by the late Palestinian author Mohammad al-As'ad, to be published by Tilted Axis Press.

Bibliography

  • Little Mountain (translation of Elias Khoury, 1989)
  • White Masks (translation of Elias Khoury)
  • Throwing Sparks (co-translated with Michael K. Scott)
  • The Baghdad Eucharist (translation of Sinan Antoon, 2017)
  • The Monotonous Chaos of Existence (translation of Hisham Bustani, 2022)
  • Camera Obscura (translation of Rula al-Jurdi, in production)
  • Children of the Dew (co-translation of Mohammad al-As'ad, forthcoming)

Translations by Author

  • Elias Khoury (multiple translations)
  • Sinan Antoon (translation)

Translations of Works

  • The Baghdad Eucharist (English translation, 2017)
  • The Monotonous Chaos of Existence (English translation, 2022)

Style & Themes

Literary Style
A translation approach that preserves the original's poetic and lyrical voice while rendering it fluently in EnglishCareful, detail-oriented fidelity to source text
Recurring Motifs
Memory and forgettingWar and its aftermathMigration and diasporaRelations between individual and community

Legacy

Maia Tabet has contributed to bringing major Middle Eastern writers to English readers through translations from Arabic. She is particularly noted for early English translations of Elias Khoury's works and for introducing diverse voices of contemporary Arabic literature to anglophone audiences.

Trivia

  • Has a strong interest in the history of food and the art of cooking
  • Mother of two adult daughters and grandmother ('teta') to Layla (citation needed)