Ali Bader
Encyclopedia
Ali Bader is an award winning Arabic novelist And a Film producer, author of eleven works of fiction, and several works of non-fiction, he has also worked as war correspondent covering the Middle East. He rose to prominence in the Arab world
in the last decade. In addition to his work as an author, he is also an Arabic media journalist. His novels are considered unique in Arabic fiction, with critics already spotting what they believe to be clear imitations.
, where he studied western Philosophy
and French Literature
.
In 2001, he published his seminal novel, Papa Sartre
(Arabic: بابا سارتر). The focus of the novel is the 1960s generation, whom he sought to critique for the negative impact of their cultural influence still felt by the current generation today. In particular, the novel
highlights the trials and tribulations of the pseudo-intellectuals of sixties Baghdad
in parody
form. It also includes memorable portrayals of Iraq’s wealthy and influential families in their decline. For this work, he was awarded the State Prize for Literature in Baghdad in 2002 and the Tunisian Abu Al-Qassem Al-Shabi Award. Following its critical acclaim in the Arab world, it was translated into English
In 2002, his novel The Family's Winter (Arabic: شتاء العائلة) appeared, revisiting with the decay of the decline of Iraq's elite, but this time focusing on the aristocracy in the 1950s. That same year, he received Prize of Literary Creativity in the United Arab Emirates
].
Following his work on The Family's Winter, Bader completed his 2003 novel
entitled The Road to Mutran Hill. In it, he dealt with Iraqi social problems and the increasing division among its numerous segments, prophesying the disintegration of Iraq's already tattered socioeconomic fabric.
In 2004, he followed up with another novel, The Naked Feast (Arabic: الوليمة العارية), exploring the emergence of the Iraqi intelligentsia at the beginning of the 20th century. Bader's novel Tumult, Women and a Sunken Writer (2005) is his most popular piece that depicts the marginalized generation of Iraqi poets and novelists in the 1990s under Saddam Hussein
's dictatorship and the international sanctions. One of the essays he published is called "Mid-night Maps", set during a journey to Iran
, Turkey
and Algeria
, for which he was given the Ibn Battuta Prize for Contemporary Journeys. In 2006, Bader published his novel Jerusalem Lantern, a fictional portrayal of Edward Said
.
In 2007 his novel Running after the Wolves, which highlights the Iraqi intellectuals who fled to Africa
because of persecution under Saddam Hussein
's dictatorship
continued to increase his stature in Arab literary circles. In 2008, his novel the Tobacco keeper, highlighted the cultural life after the tumultuous events of 2003. At the center of the novel is the life of an Iraqi Jewish musician killed in Baghdad in 2006, and his struggle as an artist to integrate into Iraqi society. Critics welcomed the novel, resulting in its nomination for the Booker Arab Prize. In 2009, he published his novel titled Kings of the Sand about the conflict between Iraqi army and the inhabitants of desert, which was a bestseller in Arab book fairs.
2010 he published Crime, Art, and Dictionary of Baghdad, anovel about the secremantal and philosophical schools in Abbasid era.
Ali Bader has also written some non-fiction books, including Massignion in Baghdad (2005), Sleeping Prince and Waiting Campaign (2006), and Shahadat: Witnessing Iraq's Transformation after 2003 (2007) Adding to his awards for fiction writing, MNSG: Navigation between Home and Exile (2008) won Bader the Every Human Has Rights Media Award of 2008
In addition to fiction and non-fiction, he is a columnist in the Arabic newspapers, among them Al-Hayat, Al-Mada, Al-Dustour
, Al-Riyadh. His journalism career has included rotations as a war correspondent.
Arab world
The Arab world refers to Arabic-speaking states, territories and populations in North Africa, Western Asia and elsewhere.The standard definition of the Arab world comprises the 22 states and territories of the Arab League stretching from the Atlantic Ocean in the west to the Arabian Sea in the...
in the last decade. In addition to his work as an author, he is also an Arabic media journalist. His novels are considered unique in Arabic fiction, with critics already spotting what they believe to be clear imitations.
Biography
Bader was born in BaghdadBaghdad
Baghdad is the capital of Iraq, as well as the coterminous Baghdad Governorate. The population of Baghdad in 2011 is approximately 7,216,040...
, where he studied western Philosophy
Philosophy
Philosophy is the study of general and fundamental problems, such as those connected with existence, knowledge, values, reason, mind, and language. Philosophy is distinguished from other ways of addressing such problems by its critical, generally systematic approach and its reliance on rational...
and French Literature
French literature
French literature is, generally speaking, literature written in the French language, particularly by citizens of France; it may also refer to literature written by people living in France who speak traditional languages of France other than French. Literature written in French language, by citizens...
.
In 2001, he published his seminal novel, Papa Sartre
Papa Sartre
Papa Sartre is a famous Arabic novel by Iraqi writer Ali Bader, it was originally published in Arabic in Beirut, 2001, and met warmly by the cultural critics and Intellectuals in Arabic world...
(Arabic: بابا سارتر). The focus of the novel is the 1960s generation, whom he sought to critique for the negative impact of their cultural influence still felt by the current generation today. In particular, the novel
Novel
A novel is a book of long narrative in literary prose. The genre has historical roots both in the fields of the medieval and early modern romance and in the tradition of the novella. The latter supplied the present generic term in the late 18th century....
highlights the trials and tribulations of the pseudo-intellectuals of sixties Baghdad
Baghdad
Baghdad is the capital of Iraq, as well as the coterminous Baghdad Governorate. The population of Baghdad in 2011 is approximately 7,216,040...
in parody
Parody
A parody , in current usage, is an imitative work created to mock, comment on, or trivialise an original work, its subject, author, style, or some other target, by means of humorous, satiric or ironic imitation...
form. It also includes memorable portrayals of Iraq’s wealthy and influential families in their decline. For this work, he was awarded the State Prize for Literature in Baghdad in 2002 and the Tunisian Abu Al-Qassem Al-Shabi Award. Following its critical acclaim in the Arab world, it was translated into English
In 2002, his novel The Family's Winter (Arabic: شتاء العائلة) appeared, revisiting with the decay of the decline of Iraq's elite, but this time focusing on the aristocracy in the 1950s. That same year, he received Prize of Literary Creativity in the United Arab Emirates
United Arab Emirates
The United Arab Emirates, abbreviated as the UAE, or shortened to "the Emirates", is a state situated in the southeast of the Arabian Peninsula in Western Asia on the Persian Gulf, bordering Oman, and Saudi Arabia, and sharing sea borders with Iraq, Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, and Iran.The UAE is a...
].
Following his work on The Family's Winter, Bader completed his 2003 novel
Novel
A novel is a book of long narrative in literary prose. The genre has historical roots both in the fields of the medieval and early modern romance and in the tradition of the novella. The latter supplied the present generic term in the late 18th century....
entitled The Road to Mutran Hill. In it, he dealt with Iraqi social problems and the increasing division among its numerous segments, prophesying the disintegration of Iraq's already tattered socioeconomic fabric.
In 2004, he followed up with another novel, The Naked Feast (Arabic: الوليمة العارية), exploring the emergence of the Iraqi intelligentsia at the beginning of the 20th century. Bader's novel Tumult, Women and a Sunken Writer (2005) is his most popular piece that depicts the marginalized generation of Iraqi poets and novelists in the 1990s under Saddam Hussein
Saddam Hussein
Saddam Hussein Abd al-Majid al-Tikriti was the fifth President of Iraq, serving in this capacity from 16 July 1979 until 9 April 2003...
's dictatorship and the international sanctions. One of the essays he published is called "Mid-night Maps", set during a journey to Iran
Iran
Iran , officially the Islamic Republic of Iran , is a country in Southern and Western Asia. The name "Iran" has been in use natively since the Sassanian era and came into use internationally in 1935, before which the country was known to the Western world as Persia...
, Turkey
Turkey
Turkey , known officially as the Republic of Turkey , is a Eurasian country located in Western Asia and in East Thrace in Southeastern Europe...
and Algeria
Algeria
Algeria , officially the People's Democratic Republic of Algeria , also formally referred to as the Democratic and Popular Republic of Algeria, is a country in the Maghreb region of Northwest Africa with Algiers as its capital.In terms of land area, it is the largest country in Africa and the Arab...
, for which he was given the Ibn Battuta Prize for Contemporary Journeys. In 2006, Bader published his novel Jerusalem Lantern, a fictional portrayal of Edward Said
Edward Said
Edward Wadie Saïd was a Palestinian-American literary theorist and advocate for Palestinian rights. He was University Professor of English and Comparative Literature at Columbia University and a founding figure in postcolonialism...
.
In 2007 his novel Running after the Wolves, which highlights the Iraqi intellectuals who fled to Africa
Africa
Africa is the world's second largest and second most populous continent, after Asia. At about 30.2 million km² including adjacent islands, it covers 6% of the Earth's total surface area and 20.4% of the total land area...
because of persecution under Saddam Hussein
Saddam Hussein
Saddam Hussein Abd al-Majid al-Tikriti was the fifth President of Iraq, serving in this capacity from 16 July 1979 until 9 April 2003...
's dictatorship
Dictatorship
A dictatorship is defined as an autocratic form of government in which the government is ruled by an individual, the dictator. It has three possible meanings:...
continued to increase his stature in Arab literary circles. In 2008, his novel the Tobacco keeper, highlighted the cultural life after the tumultuous events of 2003. At the center of the novel is the life of an Iraqi Jewish musician killed in Baghdad in 2006, and his struggle as an artist to integrate into Iraqi society. Critics welcomed the novel, resulting in its nomination for the Booker Arab Prize. In 2009, he published his novel titled Kings of the Sand about the conflict between Iraqi army and the inhabitants of desert, which was a bestseller in Arab book fairs.
2010 he published Crime, Art, and Dictionary of Baghdad, anovel about the secremantal and philosophical schools in Abbasid era.
Ali Bader has also written some non-fiction books, including Massignion in Baghdad (2005), Sleeping Prince and Waiting Campaign (2006), and Shahadat: Witnessing Iraq's Transformation after 2003 (2007) Adding to his awards for fiction writing, MNSG: Navigation between Home and Exile (2008) won Bader the Every Human Has Rights Media Award of 2008
In addition to fiction and non-fiction, he is a columnist in the Arabic newspapers, among them Al-Hayat, Al-Mada, Al-Dustour
Al-Dustour
Al-Dustour , founded in December, 1995, is an Egyptian independent opposition newspaper published in Arabic. Its editor in chief is Ibrahim Eissa...
, Al-Riyadh. His journalism career has included rotations as a war correspondent.
Novels
- Papa SartrePapa SartrePapa Sartre is a famous Arabic novel by Iraqi writer Ali Bader, it was originally published in Arabic in Beirut, 2001, and met warmly by the cultural critics and Intellectuals in Arabic world...
(2001) Translated into English ISBN 9789774162985 - Family's Winter (2002)
- The Naked Feast (2003)
- The Road to Moutran Hill (2004)
- Tumult, Women, and Sunken Writer (2005)
- Jerusalem Lantern, novel about Edward Saed (2006)
- Running After the Wolves (2007)
- The Tobacco keeper(2008) (Long list Arab Booker Prize) Translated into English, Bloomsbury, 2011
- Kings of the Sands (2009)(Long list Arab Booker Prize)
- Crime, Art, and Baghdad Dictionary (2010)
- The professors of illusion (2011)
Essays
- An invitation card to celebrities party (2010)
- Mid-night Maps (2006)
- Massignion in Baghdad (2005)
- Sleeping prince and waiting campaign (2005)
- Shahadat: witnessing Iraq's transformation after 2003
Awards
- State Prize of literature (Baghdad 2002)
- Abu al-Qassim Al-Shabi Prize (TunisTunisTunis is the capital of both the Tunisian Republic and the Tunis Governorate. It is Tunisia's largest city, with a population of 728,453 as of 2004; the greater metropolitan area holds some 2,412,500 inhabitants....
2003) - Prize of Literary Xreativity (U E A 2004)
- Ibn Battuta Prize for Traveling Books (Abu DhabiAbu DhabiAbu Dhabi , literally Father of Gazelle, is the capital and the second largest city of the United Arab Emirates in terms of population and the largest of the seven member emirates of the United Arab Emirates. Abu Dhabi lies on a T-shaped island jutting into the Persian Gulf from the central western...
2005) - Every Human Has Rights Media Award of 2008 ParisParisParis is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
External links
- http://maakom.com/site/article/126 http://penatlas.org/online/index2.php?option=com_content&do_pdf=1&id=445
- http://www.almadapaper.com/paper.php?source=akbar&mlf=interpage&sid=51844
- http://www.alriyadh.com/2006/10/03/article191255.html
- http://www.banipal.co.uk/contributors/contributor.php?conid=114