RAYA The agency for Arabic literature (2025)

30/01/2025

Stella Maris, volume 2 of The Children of the Ghetto, by Khoury Elias , translated by Humphrey Davies, and published by Archipelago (2024) has been nominated for the 2024 Gregg Barrios Book in Translation Prize of the National Book Critics Circle. Over the past year, the NBCC board has read hundreds of books. The National Book Critics Circle honors outstanding writing and fosters a national conversation about reading, criticism, and literature.

The winner will be announced on March 20, in New York.

PRAISE

Richard Jacquemond, Le Monde de Livres, 2023 - “Magnificent epic.”

Mathias Enard, L”Orient Litteraire, 2023 - "Even the stories, the narratives are inexorably mixed, through words. Stella Maris develops the links between Shoah and Nakba, between Jewish and Palestinian catastrophes…Stella Maris does not fear likenings – and likenings are not comparisons"

Le Figaro, 2023 - “Very funny and very lyrical at the same time, intelligent and mischievous, Elias Khoury subtly mocks the iron cage of identities.”

La Croix, 2023 - “Elias Khoury continues his reflection on the Palestinian condition and, more generally, on individual freedom”

Muriel Steinmetz, L’Humanité, 2023 - “In the footsteps of the Gate of the sun, the author gives voice to those who are not allowed to speak.”

Politis, 2023 - “The task of this novel, which is brimming with stories, is to put them in perspective and bring them together in one song.”

Haaretz, 2018 - “One of the greatest writers of our times and perhaps the greatest Arabic-language writer of this generation, definite Nobel Prize material… Remarkable literary skill… Poignant… Close to perfection.”

"Stella Maris", rights sold to:

Archipelago, United States, English, 2024
Actes Sud, Sindbad, France, French, 2023
Editora Tabla, Brazil, Portuguese, 2024
Feltrinelli, Italy, Italian, 2025
Karakter, Polish, Poland, forthcoming
Green Books, Malayalam, India, forthcoming

02/10/2024

BIG CONGRATULATIONS to Samar Yazbek and her translator Leri Price, who made it together to the National Book Award's shortlist for the second time, with "Where the wind calls home" (Word Editions, 2023)!

"Planet of Clay" (also known as The blue pen, World Editions, 2021) was shortlisted to the National Book Award in 2021.

This news brings some much needed light in the dark days we are experiencing.

The winner will be announced live in New York, on November 20th.

16/09/2024

It is with great sadness that I share today the news of Elias Khoury's passing.

Elias Khoury left us on the morning of September 15th. He had been in great pain since July 2023, when he suffered from ischemia. Miraculously, he survived with the superhuman support of his family and the incredible, unwavering strength of his own will.

“Unwavering” is perhaps the word that best characterizes Elias. He was unwavering in his commitment to social justice, in his criticism of the corrupt Lebanese state and Arab dictatorships, in his championing of the Palestinian cause, and in his love for life despite all the horrors he bore witness to in his writing. He also offered unwavering support to his loved ones..

A prolific and widely acclaimed author, novelist, thinker, essayist, and journalist, Elias's legacy is exceptional.

11/09/2024

Samar Yazbek’s “Where the wind calls home” (or The wind’s abode) was longlisted to the National Book Award on September 10, 2024!

The Finalists will be revealed on Tuesday, October 1 with the New York Times. Winners will be announced live at the 75th National Book Awards Ceremony & Benefit Dinner on Wednesday, November 20, 2024.

Yazbek’s Where the wind calls home, was translated by Leri Price, and published in English by World Editions.

In this novel, once again, Yazbek tackles the Syrian war, but this time, from a distance. With The wind’s abode, Samar Yazbek comes back to one of her favorite topics: the Alawite community’s transformation, its aesthetics and its faith. While the Syrian war indubitably offers the framework of this story, its heart is elsewhere. With this poignant story, Yazbek writes about the beauty and the cruelty of life, the destruction of worldly beauty and kindness, but also its resilience, and the elevation of the soul through nature.

Similarly to Ali’s, the words of this novel are sparse. No scene or description is superfluous, and Yazbek’s writing is as delicate as Ali’s gaze upon the world. With The wind’s abode, Yazbek offers her finest novel to date.

Rights sold to:

Orlando, The Netherlands (2022)
Stock, France (2023)
Ordfront, Sweden (2023)
Green Books, Malayalam, India (2023)
World Editions, USA (WEL, 2024)
Unionsverlag, Germany (2024)
Nikka Center, Ukraine (forthcoming)

Awards:
2010, Beirut 39 - one of the 39 most promising authors under the age of 40, contest organized by the Hay Festival.

2012, 2013, PEN/Pinter Prize “International writer of courage”, PEN/Tucholsky Prize, and Oxfam/PEN Prize, for “In the Crossfire: Diaries of the Syrian Revolution”.

2016 “Best Foreign Book” prize (France), non fiction category, for "The Crossing".

2018, “The blue pen”, was in the third and final selection of the French Femina award

2021, “The blue pen” was shortlisted to the National Book Award, New York under the title “Planet of Clay”

In 2019, Samar Yazbek was attributed the honorary citizenship by the City of Palermo.

In 2016, she was given the prestigious French medal of the “Chevalier de l’Ordre des Arts et des Lettres” by the French ministry of culture.

In 2022, Yazbek became a member of the Royal Society of Literature, UK,boundaries. New writers are invited to join the program each year.

02/09/2024

NEW RELEASE ALERT!

Asmal Al Atawna’s book (Dar al saqi), “Missing picture” was just released in the USA by Interlink, under the title “A long walk from Gaza”. Translated by Celine Nasrallah and Michelle Hartman.

“Searing debut novel” “Unblinking examination of a woman's coming-of-age in Gaza”

“Alatawna’s unadorned prose and unrestrained narrative is empathically rendered by literary translators Caline Nasrallah and Michelle Hartman. Their ending note is especially wrenching: ‘We finished the translation... during the unfolding of a genocide in Gaza.... We watched the places mentioned in this book, the houses, businesses, schools, hospitals, and lives be bombarded and destroyed live on our phones.’ Unexpectedly, poignantly, Alatawna's intimate history becomes ‘a testament to a Gaza that will never be the same.’”
— Shelf Awareness (Best Book of the Week)

“A stirring book”
— Kirkus Reviews

“Alatawna debuts with a harrowing look at a Palestinian woman’s lifelong struggle for liberation … It’s a convincing depiction of the way displacement fractures one’s memories, and an unflinching look at the painful reality of life in Palestine. Readers will be gripped.”
— Publishers Weekly

30/08/2024

What did the Japanese readers think of Yazbek's novel, "Blue Pen"?

A passionate review of literature student MIZOKAWA Takami, ponders the impossibility to write literature in war, and considers Yazbek’s return to literature, after six years of narrative non-fiction to be “monumental”.
This review was published on August 15th 2024, “the day Japan pledged never to wage war again”

On Social Media, readers from the wider audience shared the impressions:

“The writing is filled with beautiful, poetic prose.”

“A girl from Syria in 2013 speaks to me, over and over, urging me to imagine, to ponder, to reflect. The expression “people don’t die, they disappear” (or rather, this reality), and how her world infinitely expanded through books and paintings, slowly and deeply moved me. ”

“The reality of the girl inside the bombing left me deeply moved, making me feel the overlapping circles of anguish. This is a book that touches the soul as it gazes toward the heavens.”

The novel was translated by Ayumi Yanagiya and published by Hakusuisha, under the title “ 歩き娘 ”

28/08/2024

NEW RELEASE ALERT!

Samar Yazbek’s “Blue pen” (published in English under the title "A planet of clay") was released in Japan this summer! Translated by Ayumi Yanagiya and published by Hakusuisha, under the title " 歩き娘 "

Featured in the newspaper Mainichi, in the “Bookshelf of the Week, Ask the Author”, column by Hideyuki Tanabe, where the author was interviewed
— Yazbek: “Imagination is the most important means of confronting violence”

Reviewed by Mari Oka, for the large Nikkei newspaper
— “Now, 11 years later, how many people remember the tragedy of Ghouta? Even if it is reported objectively, the human tragedy is not remembered as the human tragedy it is, and ends up being consumed as information. But the readers of this book will never forget “

Reviewed by Kai Nagase for the influential magazine Shukan Kinyobi
— "I was blown away when I read this novelist’s non-fiction narrative, “The Crossing”. In this novel “The artist portrays the triple oppression suffered by the girl, an individual pushed outside the realm of normalcy, a woman, and a Syrian citizen”

13/06/2024

Read the beautiful interview of translator Leri Price, for ArabLit, by Tugrul Mende.

Leri shares her view on Samar Yazbek's work, and her experience translating her last book, "Where the wind calls home", published by World Editions.

Excerpts from the interview:

"I became aware of an ache for the increasingly rare corners of beauty that are being so brutally destroyed."

" I read the book partly as a plea to protect the things that are overlooked in our stampede for power: the natural world, the small, shining moments of crystalline beauty that exist in every life, however hard and overlooked it is."

Thank you

07/06/2024

I'm happy to announce that the talented Husam Hilali has recently joined RAYA agency!

Husam has published two short stories collections, and is currently working on his first novel, beautifully marked by his curiosity, reflections on writing, and his relationship to the West, as well as by his unique sense of humor. Stay tuned!

07/06/2024

I am delighted to announce that Taher El Moataz Bellah recently joined RAYA agency!

Taher is a promising voice in the Arabic content landscape. While our local scene can boast many important established or emerging literary voices, as well as important intellectual and academic figures, we cruelly lack narrative non fiction. With his passion for social affairs, in the wide sense, Taher has started to fill this huge gap, with great success.

We are excited to be collaborating on one of Taher's next projects, the dramatic tale of the rise and fall - and rise - of an Arab startup. A Unicorn, which, for a fleeting moment, had it all. It's a tale made of wild dreams, friendship, betrayal, power struggles, and secret wars. What is the cost of success and is it worth it? Such is the question at the heart of this book. The lesson it draws? Dreams do come true: Be careful what you wish for.

The book is still in the making. Stay tuned!

24/05/2024

NEW RELEASE ALERT!

Khaled Alesmael’s novel “Selamlik” is out in English! Published by World Editions, translated by Leri Price.

This honest ho******ic novel tells the story of Furat, a young gay man who discovers love in Damascus, and whose life is turned upside down by the war, like for so many people. He flees the islamist threat in Syria to Sweden, only to find himself surrounded with the other refugees’ traditional homophobia. Though Furat’s journey across land and sea is undoubtedly tragic, Alesmael succeeds in tackling this story with unique tenderness and humor.

Originally published in Swedish translation by Leopard, 2018
Sold to:
Albino Verlag, Germany (2020)
World Editions BV, USA (English, 2024)
Forlaget Ti Vilde Heste, Denmark (to appear)

"A powerful narrative that resonates with raw emotion and stark reality… Much like Genet’s raw depiction of life on the margins of society" (Qisetna, 2024)

"Beautifully written... immersive, erotic, and memorable novel" (Bay Area Reporter, 2024)

"Superb debut novel" "Beautifully written and touching" "We can't recommend it enough." (Gay’s The Word, 2024)

"Selamlik will be a classic in the future." (Dagens Nyheter, 2018)

"Simple but poetic" (Aftonboladet, 2018)

"Uncensored novel about shame, homophobia and violence." (Goteborg Posted, 2021)

"Despite the heavy topics the book deals with, it is still filled with humor and irony." (Amnesty Press, 2018)

"Khaled’s writing reminds me of the French Jean Genet." (Expressen, 2018)

"You can smell the "slaughtered lemons" from the trees of bombed Damascus as well as the mixture of sweat and olive oil soap in the catacombs of the hammams. All of this without becoming pornographic, either in terms of horror or s*x" (Taz, 2020)

"Precise and crystalline, without any lyrical or metaphor exuberance" (
Deutschland funk culture , 2020)

26/03/2024

The jury of the IV Premi Mediterrani Albert Camus —chaired by Javier Gomá, current director of the Juan March Foundation, and also formed by N’Gone Fall, independent curator; Miquel Molina, writer and journalist; José Luis Pérez Pont, critic and museum director; and Anne Prouteau, president of the Society for Camusian Studies — has selected Samar Yazbek as a finalist of this prestigious award in the category of Journalism.

Samar Yazbek will be in conversation with Alfredo Jaar and Javier Gomá on Saturday May 4th (11h30 – 12h45), and will be discussing the following topic: “How to Strip Language?”

RAYA The agency for Arabic literature

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