First Man Booker Prize Winner For Arabic Is Sharing Rs 45 lakh Prize Money With Her Translator
Jokha Alharthi received this year&rsquos prize for her book &lsquoCelestial Bodies. She is also the first Omani writer to win the literary award. The 40-year-old author will be sharing the prize money that she got - Rs 4410681 lakh.
For the first time in the history of the Man Booker Prize a writer has been declared the winner for her book in Arabic. Jokha Alharthi received this year¡¯s prize for her book ¡®Celestial Bodies¡¯. She is also the first Omani writer to win the literary award.
What is more impressive is that the 40-year-old author will be sharing the prize money that she got - Rs 44,10,681 lakh - equally with her English translator Marilyn Booth. Alharthi¡¯s book was competing against five other books from Europe and South America.
We¡¯re delighted to announce our #MBI2019 winner is Celestial Bodies by Jokha Alharthi, translated by Marilyn Booth and published by Sandstone Press. Read more here: https://t.co/rWHBRXwDOy pic.twitter.com/SfJr2Yg98u
¡ª Man Booker Prize (@ManBookerPrize) May 21, 2019
¡°I am thrilled that a window has been opened to the rich Arabic culture,¡± Alharthi told reporters after the ceremony at the Roundhouse in London. ¡°Oman inspired me but I think international readers can relate to the human values in the book- freedom and love,¡± she added.
Celestial Bodies is set in the Omani village of al-Awafi and it revolves around three sisters: Mayya - who marries into a rich family, Asma - who marries for duty, and Khawla - who is waiting for a man who has emigrated to Canada.
Bettany Hughes, a historian who led the judging panel, said that the book avoids every stereotype.
¡°We felt we were getting access to ideas and thoughts and experiences you aren¡¯t normally given in English. It avoids every stereotype you might expect in its analysis of gender and race and social distinction and slavery. There are surprises throughout. We fell in love with it,¡± Bettany Hughes told The Guardian.
