The first list of 13 titles nominated for the 11th edition of the Sheikh Zayed Book Award has been announced.
They are in the categories of Contribution to the Development of Nations, and Literary and Arts Criticism.
The first category consists of six works, from 145 nominations that were received from Morocco, Egypt, Jordan, Algeria and Syria.
The shortlisted books include Fil Islam Al Thaqafi (In cultural Islam), written by International Prize for Arabic Fiction nominee Bensalem Himmich, from Morocco, and Al Islam Wal Insan (Islam and the Human Being) by Syrian author and Islamic scholar Muhammad Shahrur.
Seven works have been shortlisted, from 120 nominations, in the Literary and Arts Criticism category. They include Al Mahabba 'ind Al Sufiya (Love in Sufism) written by Asmaa Khoualdia from Tunisia; Faa'liah Alkhial alA'dbi (the Validity of Literary Fiction) written by Iraqi-Australian Said Al Ghanimi, and Al Sh'ir al 'Arabil Hadith (Modern Arabic Poetry) by Lebanon's Charbel Dagher.
The Sheikh Zayed Book Award is run under the patronage of Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces.
The shortlists for the other categories in the coming weeks. The winners will be announced early next year, with a high-profile awards ceremony usually held on the sidelines of the Abu Dhabi Book Fair.
• For more information, visit www.zayedaward.ae
aahmed@thenational.ae
