Yousef Al-Mohaimeed
Encyclopedia
Yousef Al-Mohaimeed, is an award-winning writer and journalist who has published several novels and short story collections in Arabic, and has been translated into English, Russian, Italian, Spanish and German. He is praised for his honest treatment of controversial subjects, and is celebrated as one of the most promising emerging Saudi writers.
His childhood illnesses would prove important in his development as a writer. Yousef spent many hours reading, and would sometimes even pretend to be sick so that his youngest sister would buy him a book. Perhaps one of his earliest creative endeavors was making up endings for the Saga of Saif Bin Dhi Yazn, as his copy was missing the last few pages.
As a young man, Yousef excelled in painting and photography. At age 10, he won an award for children's painting, and went on to study Arabic calligraphy. At age 15 he began to study literature at the Jazeera secondary school. It was during this time that he began to write and publish short stories.
When Al-Mohaimeed entered the Faculty of Management Sciences at King Saud University at age 18, he became more involved with politics, and began editing a weekly magazine called Hiwar, meaning dialogue. The magazine, which published politically sensitive articles, was banned, and Al-Mohaimeed was nearly expelled for his involvement. He devoted himself more fully to literature, but his first collection of short stories, Zahira La Musha Laha (An Afternoon Without Pedestrians)published in 1989, was withdrawn from the market after a well-known religious leader complained that it was immoral. However, Al-Mohaimeed has been successful in publishing his work in other countries--Rajfat Athwabihim Al Beed (The Movement of Their White Robes) was published in Cairo in 1993, and La Budda Anna Ahadan Harraka Al Kurrasa (Someone Must Have Moved the Notebook) in Beirut in 1996.
After graduation, Al-Mohaimeed worked in accounting and journalism. In 1998, he traveled to Britain to study English and photography. In 2000, Al-Mohaimeed returned to his home of Riyadh. His first novel, Laghat Mawta (The Gossip of the Dead), was published in 2000 by the Arab Writer's Union in Damascus.
Yousef Al-Mohaimeed is one of the more exciting and critically acclaimed of a recent wave of Saudi writers emerging from the heavily censored, intellectually oppressive environment. In 2008,Wolves of the Crescent Moon which was banned in Saudi Arabia
, became his first book published outside of the Middle East
.
He was featured in an article by Scott Wilson of The Washington Post
in 2005: "For Arab Writers, New Lines in the Sand: Young Authors Push the Limits of Social and Political Freedom"
In 2009, he received the Pushcart Prize
for the short story "Soap and Ambergris" , which he adapted from his forthcoming novel, Munira's Bottle. It appeared in PEN America Issue 9: Checkpoints, and was included in Pushcart Prize XXXIII - Best of the Small Presses.
He was featured in an article about contemporary Saudi literature in The National in February 2009 http://www.thenational.ae/article/20090220/REVIEW/239172920/1194.
Wolves of the Crescent Moon was shortlisted for the inaugural Jan Michalski Prize for Literature
in 2010.
Pigeons Don't Fly in Buraydah won Abu al-Qasim Ashabbi for Arabic novel prize in 2011.
In 2008, the short story "Soap and Ambergris" was published in PEN America 9: Checkpoints.
On May 1, 2008, he attended and participated in a conversation at the PEN World Voices
Festival alongside Matt Weiland, Joshua Furst
, Francisco Goldman
and Juan De Recacoechea, entitled "The Secret Lives of Cities http://www.pen.org/audio_archive/2008_PWV/secret_lives/Secret%20Lives%20of%20Cities.mp3. The event was transcribed and published in PEN America 10: Fear Itselfin 2009, under the title "The Secret Lives of Cities".
Life and work
Yousef Al-Mohaimeed was born on January 31, 1964, during the Islamic month of Ramadan in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. He was the first boy born to the family after seven girls (three of whom had died). As a child, Yousef was often sick. After his youngest brother died of food poisoning, his mother became very protective of him.His childhood illnesses would prove important in his development as a writer. Yousef spent many hours reading, and would sometimes even pretend to be sick so that his youngest sister would buy him a book. Perhaps one of his earliest creative endeavors was making up endings for the Saga of Saif Bin Dhi Yazn, as his copy was missing the last few pages.
As a young man, Yousef excelled in painting and photography. At age 10, he won an award for children's painting, and went on to study Arabic calligraphy. At age 15 he began to study literature at the Jazeera secondary school. It was during this time that he began to write and publish short stories.
When Al-Mohaimeed entered the Faculty of Management Sciences at King Saud University at age 18, he became more involved with politics, and began editing a weekly magazine called Hiwar, meaning dialogue. The magazine, which published politically sensitive articles, was banned, and Al-Mohaimeed was nearly expelled for his involvement. He devoted himself more fully to literature, but his first collection of short stories, Zahira La Musha Laha (An Afternoon Without Pedestrians)published in 1989, was withdrawn from the market after a well-known religious leader complained that it was immoral. However, Al-Mohaimeed has been successful in publishing his work in other countries--Rajfat Athwabihim Al Beed (The Movement of Their White Robes) was published in Cairo in 1993, and La Budda Anna Ahadan Harraka Al Kurrasa (Someone Must Have Moved the Notebook) in Beirut in 1996.
After graduation, Al-Mohaimeed worked in accounting and journalism. In 1998, he traveled to Britain to study English and photography. In 2000, Al-Mohaimeed returned to his home of Riyadh. His first novel, Laghat Mawta (The Gossip of the Dead), was published in 2000 by the Arab Writer's Union in Damascus.
Yousef Al-Mohaimeed is one of the more exciting and critically acclaimed of a recent wave of Saudi writers emerging from the heavily censored, intellectually oppressive environment. In 2008,Wolves of the Crescent Moon which was banned in Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia
The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia , commonly known in British English as Saudi Arabia and in Arabic as as-Sa‘ūdiyyah , is the largest state in Western Asia by land area, constituting the bulk of the Arabian Peninsula, and the second-largest in the Arab World...
, became his first book published outside of the Middle East
Middle East
The Middle East is a region that encompasses Western Asia and Northern Africa. It is often used as a synonym for Near East, in opposition to Far East...
.
Awards and recognition
In 2004, he received an award from Divan al Arab magazine and the Egyptian Journalists Union for his creative contribution to Arab culture.He was featured in an article by Scott Wilson of The Washington Post
The Washington Post
The Washington Post is Washington, D.C.'s largest newspaper and its oldest still-existing paper, founded in 1877. Located in the capital of the United States, The Post has a particular emphasis on national politics. D.C., Maryland, and Virginia editions are printed for daily circulation...
in 2005: "For Arab Writers, New Lines in the Sand: Young Authors Push the Limits of Social and Political Freedom"
In 2009, he received the Pushcart Prize
Pushcart Prize
The Pushcart Prize is an American literary prize by Pushcart Press that honors the best "poetry, short fiction, essays or literary whatnot" published in the small presses over the previous year. Magazine and small book press editors are invited to nominate up to 6 works they have featured....
for the short story "Soap and Ambergris" , which he adapted from his forthcoming novel, Munira's Bottle. It appeared in PEN America Issue 9: Checkpoints, and was included in Pushcart Prize XXXIII - Best of the Small Presses.
He was featured in an article about contemporary Saudi literature in The National in February 2009 http://www.thenational.ae/article/20090220/REVIEW/239172920/1194.
Wolves of the Crescent Moon was shortlisted for the inaugural Jan Michalski Prize for Literature
Jan Michalski Prize for Literature
Jan Michalski Prize for Literature is a literary prize for any work of fiction or non-fiction published anywhere in the world in any language. It is meant to recognize authors from around the world and world literature in general. The jury is multicultural and multilingual in composition.The award...
in 2010.
Pigeons Don't Fly in Buraydah won Abu al-Qasim Ashabbi for Arabic novel prize in 2011.
Works Published in English
- 2007:Wolves of the Crescent Moon. AUC Press. Translated by Anthony CalderbankAnthony CalderbankAnthony Calderbank is an English translator of contemporary Arabic literature. He was educated at Manchester University where he studied Arabic and Persian. He lived in Egypt for several years in the mid-1980s, making his home in the Cairo neighbourhood of Shubra...
. - 2007:Wolves of the Crescent Moon. Penguin USA
- 2010:Munira's Bottle. AUC Press. Translated by Anthony Calderbank.
Stories
- 1989: Zahira La Musha Laha (An Afternoon Without Pedestrians). Riyadh.
- 1993: Rajfat Athwabihim Al Beed (The Movement of Their White Robes). Cairo: Shargiyat Publishing House.
- 1996: La Budda Anna Ahadan Harraka Al Kurrasa (Someone Must Have Moved the Notebook). Beirut: Al-Jadeed Publishing House.
- 2005: Akhi Yufattish ‘an Rimbaud (My Brother Is Looking for Rimbaud). Arabic Cultural Center. Beirut/Dar Al-Baida
Novels
- 2003: Laghat Mawta(The Dead’s Gossip). Colone, Germany: Al-Jamel Publishing House
- 2003: Fikhakh Al Ra’iha (Wolves of the Crescent Moon). Beirut: Riyadh Al-Rais Publishing House.
- 2004: Al Qarura (The Bottle). Beirut/Dar Al-Baida: Arab Cultural Center.
- 2006: Nozhat Addolphin (The Dolphin’s Excursion). Beirut: Riyadh Al-Rais Publishing House.
- 2009: Alhamam La Yatiru Fi Buraydah (Pigeons Don't Fly in Buraydah). Beirut/Dar Al-Baida: Arab Cultural Center.
Other
2004: Al Nakhil Wa Al Qirmid: Mushahadat Min Al Basra Ila Norwich (Palms & Brick: From Basra to Norwich). Travel literature. Beirut: Arab Studies & Publishing Est.In 2008, the short story "Soap and Ambergris" was published in PEN America 9: Checkpoints.
On May 1, 2008, he attended and participated in a conversation at the PEN World Voices
PEN World Voices
PEN World Voices: The New York Festival of International Literature was launched in 2005. PEN World Voices is a week-long literary festival in New York City. The Festival was founded by Esther Allen and Michael Roberts under then PEN President Salman Rushdie. The Festival was composed of programs,...
Festival alongside Matt Weiland, Joshua Furst
Joshua Furst
Joshua Furst is the writer of the short story collection Short People and the novel Sabotage Cafe. He teaches writing and playwriting at Pratt Institute and Eugene Lang College.-References:...
, Francisco Goldman
Francisco Goldman
Francisco Goldman is an American novelist, journalist, and Allen K. Smith Professor of Literature and Creative Writing, Trinity College. He is workshop director at , the journalism school for Latin-America created by Gabriel García Márquez...
and Juan De Recacoechea, entitled "The Secret Lives of Cities http://www.pen.org/audio_archive/2008_PWV/secret_lives/Secret%20Lives%20of%20Cities.mp3. The event was transcribed and published in PEN America 10: Fear Itselfin 2009, under the title "The Secret Lives of Cities".