Hoda Barakat
Encyclopedia
Hoda Barakat (born 1952) is an acclaimed Lebanese
novelist who lived much of her life in Beirut
and later moved to Paris
, where she now resides. Her works, written in Arabic
, have been translated into many languages, including English, French, Italian, Spanish, Turkish, Dutch, Greek and German.
, Lebanon, where she lived until she moved to Beirut to study French Literature at the Lebanese University
. She graduated in 1975. In 1975-76, she lived in Paris where she worked on a PhD, but decided to return home when the Lebanese Civil War
started. During this period she worked as a teacher, translator and journalist. It is also during this war that all of her later works are set. In 1985, she published her first work a collection of short stories called Za’irat (Women Visitors). She moved to Paris in 1989 and has lived there to the present. Here she published a series of major works including Hajar al-Dahik (The Stone of Laughter, 1990) and Ahl el-Hawa (People of Love, 1993). In 2004, she visited the UK on the first Banipal Live UK tour.
(The Stone of Laughter), which is the first Arabic work to have a gay man as its main character, won the Al-Naqid prize. Her third novel, Harit al-miyah (The Tiller of Waters), won the 2000 Naguib Mahfouz Medal for Literature
. Her other works include Ahl el-Hawa (People of Love).
Lebanon
Lebanon , officially the Republic of LebanonRepublic of Lebanon is the most common term used by Lebanese government agencies. The term Lebanese Republic, a literal translation of the official Arabic and French names that is not used in today's world. Arabic is the most common language spoken among...
novelist who lived much of her life in Beirut
Beirut
Beirut is the capital and largest city of Lebanon, with a population ranging from 1 million to more than 2 million . Located on a peninsula at the midpoint of Lebanon's Mediterranean coastline, it serves as the country's largest and main seaport, and also forms the Beirut Metropolitan...
and later moved to Paris
Paris
Paris 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...
, where she now resides. Her works, written in Arabic
Arabic language
Arabic is a name applied to the descendants of the Classical Arabic language of the 6th century AD, used most prominently in the Quran, the Islamic Holy Book...
, have been translated into many languages, including English, French, Italian, Spanish, Turkish, Dutch, Greek and German.
Biography
Barakat was raised in the Maronite Christian town of BsharréBsharri
Bsharri , is a Lebanese town at about 1,450 m of altitude, near the Kadisha Valley. It is located at , in the Bsharri District of the North Governorate. Bsharri is the town of the only remaining Original Cedars of Lebanon...
, Lebanon, where she lived until she moved to Beirut to study French Literature at the Lebanese University
Lebanese University
The Lebanese University is the only public institution for higher learning in Lebanon. Founded in 1951, it has 17 faculties as of 2006 and serves various cultural, religious, and social groups of students and teachers....
. She graduated in 1975. In 1975-76, she lived in Paris where she worked on a PhD, but decided to return home when the Lebanese Civil War
Lebanese Civil War
The Lebanese Civil War was a multifaceted civil war in Lebanon. The war lasted from 1975 to 1990 and resulted in an estimated 150,000 to 230,000 civilian fatalities. Another one million people were wounded, and today approximately 350,000 people remain displaced. There was also a mass exodus of...
started. During this period she worked as a teacher, translator and journalist. It is also during this war that all of her later works are set. In 1985, she published her first work a collection of short stories called Za’irat (Women Visitors). She moved to Paris in 1989 and has lived there to the present. Here she published a series of major works including Hajar al-Dahik (The Stone of Laughter, 1990) and Ahl el-Hawa (People of Love, 1993). In 2004, she visited the UK on the first Banipal Live UK tour.
Works
Her first work Hajar al-DahikThe Stone of Laughter
The Stone of Laughter is Lebanese novel, written in 1990 by author Hoda Barakat set during the Lebanese Civil War. The book was translated into English by Sophie Bennett...
(The Stone of Laughter), which is the first Arabic work to have a gay man as its main character, won the Al-Naqid prize. Her third novel, Harit al-miyah (The Tiller of Waters), won the 2000 Naguib Mahfouz Medal for Literature
Naguib Mahfouz Medal for Literature
The Naguib Mahfouz Medal for Literature is a literary award for Arabic literature. It is given to the best contemporary novel written in Arabic, but not available in English translation. The winning book is then translated into English, and published by American University in Cairo Press...
. Her other works include Ahl el-Hawa (People of Love).