It’s good, bad, and complicated in post-Gaddafi Libya. But for the first second-hand book fair since 2011, it certainly sounds good.
Libya 
Hisham Matar Wins 2013 Blue Met Arab Prize
Hisham Matar verifies, on Twitter, that this is not a mistake: The Libyan novelist is indeed the winner of the 2013 Al Madjidi Ibn Dhaher Blue Met Arab Prize, as announced on the Blue Met blog. Gregory McCormick writes: When I… Read More ›
‘Poems for the Millennium 4′: On Choosing Work for a New Maghreb-focused Anthology
Poet-translators Pierre Joris and Habib Tengour have recently assembled a new anthology: Poems for the Millennium, Volume Four: The University of California Book of North African Literature (2013).* We exchanged emails with Pierre Joris about how it came together: ArabLit: Although the title is “poems,” you include… Read More ›
Writers and Bloggers from ‘The New Libya’
On Monday, October 8, Banipal magazine is hosting an event at the Birmingham Book Festival: “The new Libya – its writers and bloggers”: The writers – Ghazi Gheblawi, Mohamed Mesrati, Giuma Bukleb – were all featured in Banipal’s 40th issue, “Libyan Fiction.” And you can find selections… Read More ›
Scenes from the Tripoli International Poetry Fest
Iowa-based poet and translator Christopher Merrill has been tweeting from the first annual Tripoli International Poetry Festival, going on now in the Libyan capital. The festival, which opened April 28 across from the iconic Arch of Marcus Aurelius in Tripoli’s… Read More ›
Big Lineup for Tripoli International Poetry Festival
Several dozen poets and scholars are set to appear at Tripoli’s first post-Ghaddafi International Poetry Festival at the end of this month. The festival boasts a number of poetic stars, including the UAE’s award-winning filmmaker-poet Nujoom al-Ghanem (selected poems); Ireland’s… Read More ›
Khaled Mattawa on the Next Steps for Libyan Arts and Literature
Poet, translator, and human being Khaled Mattawa recently spent some time in Tripoli, Libya helping to organize an international poetry festival that will be held in Libya next month. Upon his return, he spoke to PRI about the situation of… Read More ›
Hisham Matar: On the Novelist and Dictatorship
Libyan creative writer Hisham Matar writes as if he dreams; no detail is without a symbol or an emotional function.
Libya Holds Book Un-banning Ceremony
According to a report by the Toronto Star’s Mitch Potter (@MPWrites), a “book unbanning” ceremony was held yesterday in Tripoli. The ceremony took place at a royal palace that was converted into a Qaddafi-era library. Potter seemed particularly taken with the music, as… Read More ›
Listen to Libyan-American Poet Khaled Mattawa’s ‘After 42 Years’
The poem was originally broadcast on BBC Radio. “But that’s all over now. Or can you say over when it took 42 years?”
Hisham Matar and Ali Al-Muqri on Writing During a Revolution
By Jennifer Sears The International Peace Institute at the United Nations in New York City inaugurated its “Arab Intellectual Series” this past week with a panel featuring Libyan novelist Hisham Matar and Yemeni novelist Ali Al-Muqri. The series aims to… Read More ›
Matar on Libya: This is About ‘a People Trying to Find Their Voice’
This is not about a country removing a dictator, but a people trying to find their voice. #Libya
