International Prize for Arabic Fiction
1 appearances
-
Edition 6 (2013) Winner
Saud Alsanousi
サウド・アルサヌーシ
Saud Alsanousi
Profile
- Gender
- Male
- Born
- 1981-01-01 （Kuwait）
- Nationality
- Kuwaiti
- Languages
- Arabic
Career
- Occupations
- Novelist, Playwright, Journalist
- Active Years
- 2010-
- Influenced By
- Milan Kundera
Awards
| Year | Award | Work | Category | Organization | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | Laila al-Othman Prize (Youth Creativity Award) | Prisoner of Mirrors | — | Laila al-Othman Prize organizers | winner |
| 2011 | Stories on Air (short story competition) | The Bonsai and the Old Man | — | Al-Arabi magazine / BBC Arabic | first prize |
| 2012 | State Encouragement Award in Literature | The Bamboo Stalk | — | State of Kuwait | winner |
| 2013 | International Prize for Arabic Fiction (IPAF) | The Bamboo Stalk | — | International Prize for Arabic Fiction | winner |
| 2016 | Mohammed Al-Banki Award (Cultural Personality of the Year) | — | — | Kingdom of Bahrain cultural institutions | recipient |
| 2016 | Sheikh Zayed Book Award (longlist/shortlist) | Mama Hissa's Mice | — | Sheikh Zayed Book Award | longlisted |
| 2018 | Sheikh Zayed Book Award (shortlist) | The Pigeons of the House | — | Sheikh Zayed Book Award | shortlisted |
| 2019 | Sheikh Zayed Book Award (longlist) | Saleha's Camel | — | Sheikh Zayed Book Award | longlisted |
| 2024 | Sheikh Zayed Book Award (shortlist) | The Scrolls of Mud City (trilogy) | — | Sheikh Zayed Book Award | shortlisted |
| 2025 | Kuwaiti Writers Association Award | The Scrolls of Mud City (trilogy) | — | Kuwaiti Writers Association | winner |
Laila al-Othman Prize (Youth Creativity Award)
2010
Work:
Prisoner of Mirrors
Organization:
Laila al-Othman Prize organizers
Result:
winner
Stories on Air (short story competition)
2011
Work:
The Bonsai and the Old Man
Organization:
Al-Arabi magazine / BBC Arabic
Result:
first prize
State Encouragement Award in Literature
2012
Work:
The Bamboo Stalk
Organization:
State of Kuwait
Result:
winner
International Prize for Arabic Fiction (IPAF)
2013
Work:
The Bamboo Stalk
Organization:
International Prize for Arabic Fiction
Result:
winner
Mohammed Al-Banki Award (Cultural Personality of the Year)
2016
Organization:
Kingdom of Bahrain cultural institutions
Result:
recipient
Sheikh Zayed Book Award (longlist/shortlist)
2016
Work:
Mama Hissa's Mice
Organization:
Sheikh Zayed Book Award
Result:
longlisted
Sheikh Zayed Book Award (shortlist)
2018
Work:
The Pigeons of the House
Organization:
Sheikh Zayed Book Award
Result:
shortlisted
Sheikh Zayed Book Award (longlist)
2019
Work:
Saleha's Camel
Organization:
Sheikh Zayed Book Award
Result:
longlisted
Sheikh Zayed Book Award (shortlist)
2024
Work:
The Scrolls of Mud City (trilogy)
Organization:
Sheikh Zayed Book Award
Result:
shortlisted
Kuwaiti Writers Association Award
2025
Work:
The Scrolls of Mud City (trilogy)
Organization:
Kuwaiti Writers Association
Result:
winner
Awards & Nominations
Works
Major Works
Prisoner of Mirrors
2010 Novel (Realism)Alsanousi's debut novel, exploring inner lives and social tensions; it established him as a promising young writer.
identitymemorysocial conflict
The Bamboo Stalk
2012 Realism / Social novelThrough the life of a young man of mixed heritage, the novel examines belonging, prejudice and family ties in Kuwaiti society. Translated into many languages and internationally acclaimed.
migration and belongingrace and discriminationfamily
Adaptations
- [TV series] Saq Al Bamboo (2016)
Translations
- English translation by Jonathan Wright
Mama Hissa's Mice
2015 Novel (dystopian elements)A symbolic and allegorical novel containing sharp observations and critiques of Kuwaiti society.
social critiqueallegorymemory and forgetting
Translations
- English translation by Sawad Hussain
The Pigeons of the House
2017 NovelA novel addressing urban life and individual relationships, notable for delicate portrayals of family and community.
communitycity and tradition
Saleha's Camel
2019 Novella / Short novelA shorter narrative that reflects on memory and the transmission of stories.
traditionmemory
The Scrolls of Mud City (trilogy)
2023 Historical fiction / EpicAn epic trilogy set in Kuwait's past depicting pearl divers, merchants and visionaries to explore the nation's cultural and social formation.
historycultural heritagecollective memory
The Night of the Tailor's Execution
2025 PlayA stage play dealing with social and philosophical themes; details remain limited.
justicememory
Bibliography
- Prisoner of Mirrors (2010)
- The Bamboo Stalk (2012)
- Mama Hissa's Mice (2015)
- The Pigeons of the House (2017)
- Saleha's Camel (2019)
- The Scrolls of Mud City (trilogy, 2023–2024)
- The Night of the Tailor's Execution (play, 2025)
Adaptations
- Saq Al Bamboo (TV series)
- Memoirs of a Sailor (musical)
Translations of Works
- 'The Bamboo Stalk' (English translation by Jonathan Wright) and translations into over 14 languages
Style & Themes
- Literary Style
- reflective, philosophical prosesensuous and emotionally rich imageryblend of realism and allegorical elements
- Recurring Motifs
- memory and forgettingidentity and belongingintersection of religion and culturemigration and borders
Legacy
Recognized domestically and internationally for portraying Kuwaiti society from within. 'The Bamboo Stalk' brought global attention and his body of work contributes to preserving Kuwait's cultural memory.
In Popular Culture
- TV series 'Saq Al Bamboo' based on 'The Bamboo Stalk'
- 'Ana Insan' (theme song of The Bamboo Stalk series)
Quotes
-
“I do not write because I understand the world, but because I do not, and I want to understand. I do not understand death, so I write to bring the dead to life. I write so that I may not die.”
Source: Interview / essay (Why Write Arab Fiction?) (2019)
Trivia
- Won the International Prize for Arabic Fiction in 2013, becoming the youngest recipient of the prize at the time.
- Most of his novel covers have been designed by Kuwaiti artist Meshail AlFaisal.
- 'The Bamboo Stalk' has been reported translated into over 14 languages, including English.