40 translated Emirati works on sale at book fair

sharjah — At the Sao Paulo International Book Fair, Sharjah’s presence is noticeable with a large stand at a prime location, featuring books, art and music from the UAE, the Brazil Arab News Agency (ANBA) has reported.

According to the agency, the Sharjah Book Authority (SBA) has translated 40 works by local authors into Brazilian Portuguese, especially for the biennial fair.

“The criterion in choosing the books was to bring some of the best that Sharjah literature has to offer, with the most renowned and prize-winning artists in the region and spanning different genres, like tales, poetry, novels and technical books. This way, we can represent the emirate’s culture in the best possible way,” SBA sales executive Faisal Alnabouda said. All the books have been edited in a simple, similar way, hence the symbolic price tag.

Some of the authors present at the book fair signed autographs and presented their works to audiences attending the exhibition.

Highlights include four autobiographies of His Highness Dr Sheikh Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Member of the Supreme Council and Ruler of Sharjah, which have been edited to meet higher quality standards. The stand also features items from the Sharjah Ruler’s personal collection, including Arabic calligraphy and ancient Gulf maps.

Attorney-at-law Rosangela de Souza came from Florianopolis for the biennial and purchased three books at the Sharjah stand. “I’m very curious about other cultures. I value Arab culture greatly, and I like to learn more and more about the region’s history and folklore,” she said.

The Sao Paulo International Book Biennial will continue until August 12 at Anhembi Convention Centre, ANBA concluded. —

The criterion in choosing the books was to bring some of the best that Sharjah literature has to offer, with the most renowned and prizewinning artists in the region.”

Faisal Alnabouda, SBA

sales executive