The anthology „Writing Revolution: The Voices from Tunis to Damascus“, supported by the Heinrich Böll Foundation’s office in Beirut, is one of the six books to receive the „English PEN Award for Outstanding Writing in Translation“ in the year 2013.
The PEN Award honors international, translated works of fiction, non-fiction or poetry which contribute to inter-cultural understanding and promote freedom of expression. Ros Schwartz, one of Britain’s foremost specialists in literary translation and chair of the jury said: “We received a record number of submissions for this round, and it was a very tough choice. […]we’re delighted to support such a diverse selection of exciting books of the very highest quality.”
The publisher of each award-winning book will receive funds to help them promote international literature to a broad readership.
„Writing Revolution: The Voices from Tunis to Damascus“ brings together new writing born out of the revolutions in the Arab world. It is a collection of personal testimony, entirely composed by participants in, and witnesses to, the profound changes shaking the region. Situated between the past, the present and the future, these voices are part of an ongoing process, one that is hopeful and tragically violent at the same time. The young writers speak of history, determination and struggle, as well as of political and poetic engagement with questions of identity and activism. The anthology includes contributions from Algeria, Bahrain, Egypt, Libya, Tunisia, Saudi-Arabia, Syria, and Yemen.
It will appear in spring 2013, published by I.B. Tauris in London.