International Prize for Arabic Fiction
1 appearances
-
Edition 9 (2016) Winner
Rabai al-Madhoun
ラバイ・アル＝マドゥーン
Rabai al-Madhoun
Profile
- Gender
- Male
- Born
- 1945 （al-Majdal, British Mandate Palestine (near Ashkelon, present-day Israel)）
- Nationality
- Palestinian
- Languages
- Arabic, English
- Residence History
- Khan Younis, Gaza Strip → Beirut, Lebanon → Nicosia, Cyprus → London, United Kingdom
Career
- Occupations
- Journalist, Novelist, Writer, Editor
- Active Years
- 1973-
- Affiliations
- Al-Sharq Al-Awsat (editor), Democratic Front for the Liberation of Palestine (former member)
- Memberships
- Democratic Front for the Liberation of Palestine (former)
- Nominations
- 2010 International Prize for Arabic Fiction — shortlisted for The Lady from Tel Aviv
Education
| Institution | Faculty | Department | Degree | Period | Country |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alexandria University | — | — | — | — | Egypt |
Alexandria University
Country:
Egypt
Awards
| Year | Award | Work | Category | Organization | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | International Prize for Arabic Fiction (IPAF) | Destinies: The Concerto of the Holocaust and the Nakba | — | International Prize for Arabic Fiction organization | Winner |
International Prize for Arabic Fiction (IPAF)
2016
Work:
Destinies: The Concerto of the Holocaust and the Nakba
Organization:
International Prize for Arabic Fiction organization
Result:
Winner
Awards & Nominations
Works
Major Works
The Idiot of Khan Younis
1977 Short storiesA collection of short stories set in Khan Younis, Gaza, depicting life, struggles and daily realities of refugees.
Refugee experienceDaily hardshipIdentity
The Palestinian Intifada
1988 Non-fiction / ReportageDocumentary-style reportage and analysis concerning the Palestinian situation and the Intifada in the 1980s.
PoliticsResistanceHistory
The Taste of Separation
2001 Autobiographical novelA largely autobiographical novel based on the author's experiences, dealing with exile, loss and personal memory.
ExileMemoryFamily
The Lady from Tel Aviv
2009 NovelA novel that interweaves history and personal memory through the perspectives of a Palestinian man and an Israeli woman. Shortlisted for the 2010 International Prize for Arabic Fiction.
MemoryReconciliationHistorical conflict
Translations
- English translation by Elliott Colla
Destinies: The Concerto of the Holocaust and the Nakba
2015 NovelA major novel juxtaposing the tragedies of the Holocaust and the Nakba to explore memory, responsibility and layered histories. Winner of the 2016 International Prize for Arabic Fiction.
Dialogue of memoryComparative historyTrauma and reconciliation
Bibliography
- The Idiot of Khan Younis (short stories, 1977)
- The Palestinian Intifada (1988)
- The Taste of Separation (autobiographical novel, 2001/2011)
- The Lady from Tel Aviv (novel, 2009)
- Destinies: The Concerto of the Holocaust and the Nakba (novel, 2015)
Translations of Works
- The Lady from Tel Aviv — English translation by Elliott Colla
Style & Themes
- Literary Style
- Realist proseBlend of autobiographical recollection and historical narrationNarrative rooted in political and social contexts
- Recurring Motifs
- Exile and refugee experienceMemory and traumaIntersection of history and the individual
Legacy
Rabai al-Madhoun is a significant figure in contemporary Palestinian literature, known for works addressing refugeehood and memory. His international profile rose after winning the 2016 International Prize for Arabic Fiction.
Trivia
- Born to a family displaced in 1948 and raised in a refugee camp in the Gaza Strip.
- Turned to a journalism career in 1973.
- Was involved with the Democratic Front for the Liberation of Palestine in the 1970s but quit politics in 1980 to concentrate on writing.
- Based in London and serves as an editor at Al-Sharq Al-Awsat.