Since 1996 the AUC Press has presented the annual Naguib Mahfouz Medal for Literature, a major award in support of contemporary Arabic literature in translation.
The award, consisting of a silver medal and a cash prize, as well as translation and publication throughout the English-speaking world, is presented annually on December 11, the birthday of Nobel laureate Naguib Mahfouz, by the President of the American University in Cairo in the presence of the Minister of Culture and many other prominent leaders of Egypt’s cultural life.
The Naguib Mahfouz Medal for Literature is awarded for the best contemporary novel published in Arabic (but not yet in English) and is selected every fall by the Mahfouz Award Committee, which includes Dr. Abdel Moneim Talima, Dr. Hoda Wasfi, Mr. Mr. Fakhry Saleh, Dr. Gaber Asfour, Dr. Mohamed Berrada, Dr. Samia Mehrez, and Mr. Mark Linz, Director of the AUC Press. The award-winning book is subsequently translated and published in an English-language edition by the AUC Press in Cairo, New York, and London.
The American University in Cairo Press is the primary English-language publisher of Naguib Mahfouz and has published or licensed some 500 foreign-language editions of the Nobel laureate’s works in 40 languages.
The 18 winners of the Naguib Mahfouz Medal for Literature since its inauguration include 8 women, 9 men; 10 Egyptians (2 posthumously), 2 Palestinians, 1 Algerian, 1 Lebanese, 1 Moroccan, 1 Syrian, and 1 Iraqi.
How to Enter
The Naguib Mahfouz Medal for Literature is awarded on the basis of the literary excellence of the work as agreed by a panel of judges. The Award Committee meets in early summer to establish a shortlist of nominees and in the fall the judges make a final decision prior to the award ceremony on December 11 of every year.
Anyone can nominate a novel by giving the full bibliographical information of the work and contact information of the author and the original publisher. Any Arabic novel published anywhere in the world within the last 3 years but not yet translated into English is eligible. Authors can also nominate their works and send six copies of their book, along with a copy of their CV, with address, telephone, and email information. The AUC Press will acknowledge receipt of works, but only winners will be contacted thereafter, and books will not be returned to senders.
CONTACT INFORMATION:
For queries: contact Neil Hewison, Associate Director for Editorial Programs, at rnh@aucegypt.edu
For submissions: Mahfouz Award Committee, c/ o The American University in Cairo Press, 113 Kasr El Aini Street, P.O. Box 2511, Cairo, Egypt
Website: http://www.aucpress.com/
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