Sheikh Zayed Book Award unveils 2020 longlists

ABU DHABI: The Sheikh Zayed Book Award has revealed its highly anticipated longlists in the ‘Young Author’ and ‘Children’s Literature’ categories for its 15th edition ( 2020-2021). The Award announced that this year’s ‘ Young Author’ and ‘Children’s Literature’ longlists feature a combined 27 works from 11 Arab countries.

‘Young Author’ proved to be this edition’s most contested category, receiving 646 submissions (28 percent of all submissions received). The longlist comprises 14 titles ranging from narrative and poetic works to academic dissertations and critical studies, by young authors coming from nine Arab countries: the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Syria, Egypt, Algeria, Lebanon, Jordan, Yemen, and Palestine.

The longlisted titles, include: Nuzha fi Fina’ al Shak (A Walk in the Courtyard of Doubt) a poetic work by Saudi Arabian author Hassan Abdu Sumayli, published by Tashkeel Publishing in 2019; Siratun Thatiyya lel Farasha (Biography of the Buterfly) a poetic work by Egyptian writer Mohammed Ismail, published by Bardia Publishing & Distribution in 2019; Ka’annaho al She’r (As if it is Poetry) a poetic work by Yemeni writer Gabr Badani, published by Dar Al Atyaf Publishing & Distribution in 2019 and Set Zawaya lel Salaat (Six Corners for Prayer) by Egyptian writer Amira Badawy, published by El Ain Publishing in 2020.

They also consist of: Laylat Yalda (Yalda Night) by Egyptian writer Ghada Al-absi, published by Dar Al Tanweer in 2018; Khiva (Khiva) by Egyptian writer Ahmed Farahat, published by Kotobna in 2020; Malindi: Hikayatul Holm al Afreeqi (Malindi: The Tale of the African Dream) by Lebanese writer Mohammad Tarazi, published by Arab Scientific Publishers, Inc. in 2019; La’allaha Mazha (It Might be a Joke) by Emirati writer Salha Obaid, published by Almutawassit Books with Dar Melad in 2018; Ma Taraktu Khalfi ( What I Let Behind) by Palestinian writer Shatha Mustafa, published by Nofal/hachete Antoine in 2020 and Al Qadaya al Naqdiyya fi Rasa’il Ikhwan al Safaa’ wa Khillan al Wafaa’ (Critique in the Epistles of the Brethren of Purity and Loyal Friends) by Syrian author Alaa Yassin Diab, published by the Syrian General Authority for Books in 2019.