50 most important Arabic novels of the 20th century

The 20th century transformed the Arab world, and with it, Arabic literature. Empires fell, colonisers withdrew and independent states arose, and within the twisting borders of those redrawn maps, the modern Arabic novel was born.

Authors from Algeria to Yemen, propelled by the new political, social and philosophical currents coursing through the region, produced bold and startling pieces of work, with many in societies only just beginning to find their own voice. It was a search for identity, a fight against injustice. Together, those works help define what it means to be Arab in the world we live in today.

It was also a time when Egypt, Syria and Lebanon cemented their standing as pillars of the Arab world’s literary scene, with world-famous authors producing totemic works still viewed as exemplars of the historical dynamism and creativity of the region.

Working alongside the Abu Dhabi Arabic Language Centre, and with the input of more than 50 authors, publishers, experts, festival purveyors and prize jurors from across Mena – such as the Sheikh Zayed Book Award and the International Prize for Arabic Fiction –The National has chosen the 50 most important Arabic novels of the 20th century.

Presented in alphabetical order, according to countries making up the Arab League, our list only scratches the surface of the myriad brilliant works produced across the region in that 100-year span.

We hope it acts as a conversation starter, a reference point for a literary landscape rich in meaning and wonder, and a potential pathway into understanding the soul of the Middle East and North Africa.

Bahrain

Song of Water and Fire (1988)
by Abdulla Khalifa

A prolific writer until his death in 2014 in Manama, Abdulla Khalifa published Song of Water and Fire nearly 15 years after the publication of his first short story collection in 1975. Always a maverick and dynamic thinker who for years served as a columnist, Khalifa thrived in the world of fiction, especially in short form.

In this book, regarded as his best work, a series of interconnected stories focuses on the elements of water and fire, and the way they symbolise aspects of life, from transformation to destruction and ultimate renewal. Strongly regarded for his poetic prose, the novel is ultimately an exploration of the human spirit. 

The Siege (1993)
by Fawziya Rashid

What does it mean to be free in a society where societal expectations can be crushing? This is one of the central issues that pioneering Bahraini author Rashid tackles in The Siege. Through its exploration of female identity in Bahrain, the title is a metaphor to the constraints women feel as they attempt to find their agency in a country grappling between notions of tradition and modernity. With its universal themes, The Siege found an audience across the Arab world and remains a compelling look at Gulf societies at the turn of the century.

Egypt

What Isa ibn Hisham Told Us (1907)
by Muhammad Al Muwaylihi

First appearing in the newspaper Misbah Al Sharq as a serialised story, What Isa ibn Hisham Told Us is a significant work of early 20^th century Arabic literature. Considered a work of fiction that bridged classical Arabic narrative forms, such as epic narratives, fables, oral traditions and Islamic period poetry, with modern fiction, the novel is a critical text for understanding the evolution of Arabic literature.

The story follows the protagonist Eissa ibn Hisham as he, with an apparition of Ahmad Pasha Al Manikli, a former minister from the Ottoman era, wander through Cairo as the city undergoes a rapid western transformation at the height of British occupation.

From Al Manikli’s disappointment at how the city is changing to ibn Hisham’s shrewd outlook, their observations are presented through a tone of satirical political commentary as they discuss the contrast and clash of imported cultural values between traditional Egyptian society and western modernity. Their discussion and critiques of authenticity versus modernity delves into facets of law, policing, education, theatre, social conduct and other aspects of Egyptian life.

Zaynab (1913)
by Muhammad Husayn Haykal

Recognised as the first modern Egyptian novel, Zaynab is an intimate exploration of rural life in Egypt – a setting and theme that is common in Arabic literature from the country.

For one of the first times in the novel form, the Egyptian countryside acts as the setting to explore class relationships – romantic, marital and others – between labouring cotton worker and the owners of a plantation. The story specifically follows Zaynab, a young farm worker who is grappling with the realities of an arranged marriage that she doesn’t desire. 

Zaynab is considered an important piece of literary work for featuring a completely Egyptian contemporary setting and the first to feature the Egyptian dialogue as opposed to classical Arabic.

Return of the Spirit (1933)
by Tawfiq Al Hakim

This seminal work by the Egyptian playwright and author is seen has having shaped the way Egyptians viewed themselves in the lead up to the 1919 Revolution.

Al Hakim cleverly ties together his protagonist’s eventual enlightenment and a complex love story with the country's own spiritual and political awakening.

The Call of the Curlew (1934)
by Taha Hussein

Exploring themes of love and revenge, The Call of the Curlew critiques social norms and taboos, particularly in regard to women's roles in Egyptian society, with a focus on the idea of honour.

Amna is a young woman, who witnesses her sister's murder by their uncle – who acted to preserve the family's honour. Traumatised and vengeful, Amna seeks revenge not against her uncle but on who she believes is the true murderer: an engineer with whom her sister fell in love.

Amna disguises herself as a maid in his household, concocting several plans to murder him, but things start to change when she finds herself drawn to him. Matters then become more complicated when her uncle discovers their relationship and Amna must choose between love and revenge. 

The Earth (1953)
by Abd Al Rahman Al Sharqawi

Set in the 1930s, a time when Egypt was undergoing social upheaval and governmental corruption, The Earth follows a 12-year-old boy, who returns home from his school in Cairo one day to find his village living in fear and turning in on itself.

A corrupt official has ordered the villagers to irrigate their fields in five days, instead of the customary 10. It’s an order that threatens to disrupt the life and livelihood of the village.

The people of the village are then torn by the only two options they have: they must either join the village schoolmaster, Sheikh Hassouna, who is urging them to rebel and stand up to their oppressors, or succumb to their will with disastrous and rippling effects on their lives.

The Cairo Trilogy (1956-1957)
by Naguib Mahfouz

A trilogy consisting of three novels, Palace Walk, Palace of Desire and Sugar Street, but commonly published as one volume known as The Cairo Trilogy, written by Nobel Prize-winning author Naguib Mahfouz, is a significant Arabic literary work.

Spanning from 1919, during the Egyptian Revolution against British colonial rule, to the end of the Second World War in 1944, the story follows major sociopolitical changes in the country through the lens of one family. It begins with Al Sayyid Ahmad Abd Al Jawad, a powerful and unyielding patriarch, strictly governing his family and work while leading a double life filled with excess outside the home.

Over the decades, the story spans to his wife and the lives of his five children, revealing the complexities of life in early 20th-century Cairo, during a rapidly changing world. The faith and identity of the family, as well as the Egyptian people, is tested.  

The trilogy is, in many ways, more than a family saga: it is a deep exploration and commentary on society during a transformative time in Egypt that is reflected in the Arab region.

The Golden Chariot (1995)
by Salwa Bakr

Aziza is serving a life sentence for murdering her stepfather. While in prison, she imagines escaping her life through a "golden chariot" that will take her, and a few selected prisoners, to heaven. Surrounded by women from different backgrounds and walks of life, she begins to retell the story of her life while also listening to their stories and deciding which one is worthy enough to join her on the golden chariot. 

The stories of all the women, the innocent, guilty, naive and dangerous, come together as one narrative, akin to a contemporary Arabian Nights, the tales delve into all facets of the lives of women from varying backgrounds stuck together in one single prison cell.

Bakr’s novel is revolutionary for its realistic commentary on gender relations in Egypt, showing how societal and familial pressures contribute negatively to the lives of women and how their criminal behaviour is often a response to systemic oppression and personal trauma. Bakr’s powerful use of metaphors also puts into perspective that, while the women in the story are in a prison, women across the world are in various forms of entrapment because of the patriarchy. 

Iraq

The Tattoo (1972)
by Abdul Rahman Majeed Al Rubaie

Identity, belonging and sociopolitical turmoil are major themes in this crucial work of Iraqi literature by Al Rubaie. 

The story is set in Iraq between 1958-1967 and follows a young idealistic Iraqi man, Karim Al Nasseri, who has a strong sense patriotism until he is arrested. After his release, Karim is a changed man and is consumed by a sense of defeatism and resentment. The narrative switches between the present moment, where Karim’s life is now consumed with senseless, violent and addictive behaviour, and memories of his time in prison.   

Al Rubaie takes an innovative approach to the novel and thoughtfully unpacks Karim’s journey to reflect the greater disillusionment of Arab men post-independence and the promised Arab Nationalism that would have seen the region become a unified and progressive homeland for all.

The Long Way Back (1994)
by Fouad Al Takarli

A powerful, character-driven story, The Long Way Back is a multigenerational novel that weaves the lives of four generations of one Iraqi family, who live in an old house in the Bab Al Shaykh area of Baghdad. From the internal personal struggles of each character to their complex relationships with one another, their stories are set against major political and social upheaval as the country’s prime minister, Abd Al Karim Qasim, is overthrown and the Baath party is set to take power.

The reader is given an intimate glimpse into the recent history of the region, how these major political movements created chasms between generations, social groups and genders in one family, and how all of this affected notions of identity, heritage and resilience in generations to come.

The Last of the Angels (1992)
by Fadhil Al Azzawi

Set in the 1950s in Kirkuk, Iraq, The Last of the Angels follows three very different characters’ lives and how they are intertwined in surreal ways.

Hameed Nylon’s life changes when he loses his job as a chauffeur as rumours circulate that he propositioned his British boss’s wife. After this, Hameed believes his life was meant to change and becomes a revolutionary in Iraq. Then there is the money-scheming Khidir Musa, who travels suddenly to Russia to find two brothers who have been missing since the First World War.

And finally the key to all their fates is in the hands of a seven-year-old boy, Burhan Abdallah, who accidently finds an old chest in his attic that allows him to speak to three white-robed old men claiming to be angels.

Al Azzawi’s magic realist story is marked by satire and stark realism, where his own love and criticism of Iraq is woven into the narrative and unfolding events of novel.

Jordan

You as of Today (1968)
by Tayseer Sboul

Tayseer Sboul wrote You as of Today as a direct response to the 1967 Arab-Israeli war. The novel’s title is derived from a patriotic song. A mere 70 pages long, the book became a hit when it was published, as many in the region could relate to the heartbreak, disillusionment and rage that Sboul expresses. The novel features two narratives, one named Arabi ibn Arabi – or Arab son of an Arab – while the other interjects with his own insights and thoughts. As such, You as of  Today was markedly experimental for its time and has come to be regarded as one of the foremost postmodern works in Arab fiction. 

Sultana (1987)
by Ghalib Halasa 

Sultana is another novel that confronts norms and has thus stirred up its fair share of controversy. The novel is set in 1950s Jordan, in a period where the country was in the thick of political uncertainty following the assassination of King Abdullah I. The story is told by a man named Jeries as he recounts his youth in a village and his time at a boarding school in Amman. At the heart of his story is Sultana, a fiercely independent woman, and her daughter, Amira. The novel is a whirlwind of passion and politics, fearlessly delving into the shadowy world of extortion and smuggling. 

Sons of the Castle (1989)
by Ziad Qassim

In Sons of the Castle, Ziad Qassim presents the history of Amman from 1940 onwards, exploring its development as well as setbacks such as during the 1967 war. The novel is populated by a panoply of memorable characters with complex and layered relationships. As the book also deals with notions of Arab unity, Sons of the Castle offers a reflection of the wider Middle East during the 20th century, even if its focus remains resolutely on Amman. 

Confessions of a Silencer (1992)
by Munis Ar Razzaz

Propelled by fragmented dialogues, Confessions of a Silencer is as beautiful for its polyphony as for its contemplative turns of phrase. Isolation is a key theme in the novel as a man, woman and their daughter are under house arrest and feel a sense of exile even from one another. Their only tethers to the outside world are the phone calls they receive from their son. The story is evidently published by the experiences of Ar Razzaz’s own family. The writer’s father, Munif, was a prominent member of the Iraqi Baath party until the 1979 purge by Saddam Hussein, after which he was placed under house arrest until his death in 1984.

Kuwait

The File of Case 67 (1975) 
by Ismail Fahd Ismail

A young Kuwaiti man becomes mired in a complex legal case that makes him question the concepts of justice and what it means to be truly free. Fierce in its social critique, the psychological depth and narrative flair of this novel speaks to why Ismail is viewed as one of the Gulf's most important novelists.

Wasmiyah Leaves The Sea (1986) 
by Laila Al Othman

Living in an idyllic costal village, Wasmiyah comes from a well-to-do Kuwaiti family and falls in love with childhood sweetheart Abdullah. However, as both come of age they confront the social and gender barriers within Kuwaiti society. Bold and lyrical, Wasmiyah Leaves The Sea challenges the traditional portrayal of women in Gulf societies through the title character’s push to assert herself in traditional patriarchal society.

The Shade of the Sun (1998) 
by Taleb Al Refai 

Focusing on the suffering of foreign migrant workers in Kuwait, Taleb Al Refai’s first novel was the culmination of years of writing short stories in local newspapers as an engineering student at the University of Kuwait. He would go on to become one of his country’s most accomplished men of letters and still serves as a creative writing lecturer. The story follows an Egyptian teacher named Helmy, who, struggling to make end’s meet in Cairo, dreams of a better life in Kuwait City. He borrows a huge amount of money for his visa, which is only the beginning of the Kafkaesque calamities of which he finds himself victim.  Look closely and you’ll notice that Al Refai, too, is a character – adding himself in as an engineer, who is writing a story about the painful experiences of migrant workers.

Lebanon

I Live (1958)
by Layla Baalbakki

Layla Baalbakki’s I Live is a trailblazing novel that revolves around women who challenge expected gender roles. The novel, written in 1958, is well ahead of its time, for its subject matter as well as its moving prose. It is perhaps for this reason that it is often cited as an inspiration to many female writers from subsequent generations, including Hanan Shaykh. Despite the novel’s celebrated status today, I Live incited significant controversy at the time of publication. The novel was banned in Lebanon and led to charges of obscenity against Baalbakki. 

Death in Beirut (1972)
by Tawfiq Yusuf Awad

Death in Beirut is set in the wake of the 1967 Arab-Israeli war. Its protagonist is Tamima Nassour, a teenage Shiite girl, who leaves her village to study in Beirut, soon becoming embroiled in political activities at her university. She begins an affair with a journalist and falls in love with a Maronite Christian. 

Tawfiq Yusuf Awad published Death in Beirut – which was the English title chosen despite the Arabic literally translating to 'the mills of Beirut' – three decades after releasing his debut work The Loaf. The novel holds an immovable place in the pantheon of Lebanese fiction. It delves into the sectarian schisms of the country with a poignant resolve and, as it was released a few years before the outbreak of the Lebanese Civil War, was a portent of the violence that would break out a few years later.

Sitt Marie Rose (1978)
by Etel Adnan

Lebanese-American writer Etel Adnan’s Sitt Marie Rose takes place in the years preceding and during the 1975 Lebanese Civil War. 

The novel’s eponymous character is a teacher of deaf-mute children who is executed by Christian militia. The book reflects upon the role of women and the dangers of xenophobia. As Adnan is known primarily for her works of poetry, most notably The Arab Apocalypse, it isn’t surprising that Sitt Marie Rose effortlessly incorporates poetic language and turns of phrases. The novel is slim, with some chapters comprising of no more than a single sentence, and yet Sitt Marie Rose leaves a visceral impact that will resonate with readers far longer than its read-time. 

The Story of Zahra (1980)
by Hanan Shaykh     

In The Story of Zahra , Hanan Shaykh draws elements from her own life to write a heart-rending and moving portrait of a woman. The novel begins in the years before the Lebanese Civil War with Zahra as a young girl who is mistreated by her family – beaten by her father and used as a cover for her mother’s extramarital affairs. She leaves Lebanon to live with her uncle in an unnamed African country before returning to Beirut as the civil war rages on. 

Shaykh had significant difficulties in publishing the work, having been denied by at least nine publishers. It was finally published in 1980, with an English translation released six years later. 

Stone of Laughter (1990)
by Hoda Barakat

Stone of Laughter by Hoda Barakat is also set in the thick of the Lebanese Civil War. However, it offers another lens through which to view the conflict. 

The novel highlights how life goes on in spite of war.

At its heart is Khalil, a character who struggles with his identity amid unbending social expectations and the enveloping bloodshed. The novel, which won the prestigious Al Naqid prize, is bold even by today’s standards, and manages to coax humour from unlikely places.  

Kingdom of Strangers (1993)
by Elias Khoury

The late Elias Khoury was a prolific writer who wrote more than a dozen novels, as well as short story collections, plays, screenplays and essays. His works often explore different aspects of society in Lebanon. He was also a fierce champion of the Palestinian cause. His best-known work, Gate of the Sun (1998), is a kaleidoscopic odyssey across Palestinian history. 

Kingdom of Strangers is a slightly different but no less important work. It tells the story of Jurji Khairy, a Lebanese monk who is murdered in Jerusalem using interwoven, non-linear stories from three main characters. Set against the backdrops of the Dead Sea, Jerusalem and the Shatila Refugee Camp in southern Beirut, Khoury weaves together human stories within broader historical and cultural contexts.

Libya

The Bleeding of the Stone (1990)
by Ibrahim Koni    

The Bleeding of the Stone is considered a pioneering work for presenting environmental themes that are rarely explored in Arabic literature. 

Following a Tuareg desert nomad’s attempts to fend off hunters from killing a prized rare mountain goat, the novel is a meditation on our relationship with the natural world and how greed poses an existential threat to the environment.

Mauritania

The Unknown Grave (1982)
by Ahmad Wild Abdulqadir

The Unknown Grave offers an insightful gateway to Mauritanian literature, just as it does to the country’s culture and traditions. The novel is informed by Abdulqadir’s reflections on Bedouin life and tribal conflicts in Mauritania. It tells the story of an illegitimate pregnancy and its repercussions as a war rages between three tribes.

City of Winds (1996)
by Moosa Walid Ibno

Defying classification by flitting between allegory, science-fiction, fantasy and travelogue while shifting perspectives, this novel and its protagonist move across time and space. It details a slave’s experience in the 11th century salt trade and travels to the year 2045, when oligarchies rule over a nuclear wasteland of a country. City of Winds is one of the most gripping dystopian tales to come out of the Arab world, adroitly tackling themes of human nature, climate change and cyclical history.

Morocco

The Woman and the Rose (1972)
by Mohammed Zafzaf

Through its multi-layered and twisting narrative, Mohammed Zafzaf's novel broke new ground for the Moroccan novel.

The corrosive impact of alienation is central to The Woman and the Rose, which follows the story of Muhammad, an educated Moroccan living in Spain who becomes infatuated with a mysterious woman he encounters in a local cafe.

For Bread Alone (1972) 
by Mohamed Choukri

This autobiographical novel is hailed as a classic of North African literature. It centres on the life of Choukri as he moves from his impoverished and illiterate childhood in Tangiers to becoming an acclaimed academic and linguist.

The novel is unsparing in its portrayal of poverty experienced by villagers living in the Riff Mountains and family trauma, and critiques the effects of colonialism on Moroccan society. For Bread Alone was celebrated and criticised on release but provided a rare literary voice for Morocco’s underclass.

Palestine

Men in the Sun (1963)
by Ghassan Kanafani

While it may be set in Iraq, far from the western shores of the Mediterranean, make no mistake – Ghassan Kanafani’s Men in the Sun is about Palestine. Following three Palestinian men desperately traveling from Iraq to Kuwait in search of work during the oil boom of the 1960s, the novel examines both the external and internal wounds left by the 1948 Nakba. More allegorically, it also acts as a searing critique of the seeming passivity of both Palestinian and regional political figures of the time, as the powerless masses bear the brunt of suffering from the mistakes or neglect of those in power. Sixty years after publication, its ending remains one of the most haunting in the Arab literary canon.

In Search of Walid Masoud (1978)
by Jabra Ibrahim Jabra

Set against a backdrop of extreme political turmoil and written from several perspectives, In Search of Walid Masoud is an important novel with themes that continue to be relevant touch points in the Palestinian struggle today. The story revolves around the mysterious disappearance of banker, writer and activist, Walid Masoud, who is involved in rebellion against the Israeli occupation.

When his car is found abandoned at the Syria-Iraq border, Walid’s friends attempt to discover what happened to him. The narrative delves into Walid’s childhood, adolescence and his complicated relationships with women along with his political and religious associations.

Told from the perspective of several different characters, including Walid himself, what unravels is a powerful story about of desire and the challenges of Palestinian identity and nationalism.

Qatar

Passage to Truth (1987)
by Shua Al Khalifa

Written in 1987 but published in 1993, Passage to Truth is a story like many from the Gulf region that explores the transformation of traditional society due to the development and boom of the oil market. The novel centres around a set of characters living in Qatari society with a focus on how the conventions of the time were limiting to women while also highlighting the rippling effect of modernisation on the country as a whole.

Throughout the story, Al Khalifa’s powerful imagery and rich descriptions are laden with nostalgia as characters, structure and plot continue to focus on the contrast between old and new values and perspectives. The novel is relevant today, decades after it was written, as the themes of cultural identity, gender roles and the impact of modernisation on traditional lifestyles are still rooted in many of the concerns of Arabs in the region and in diaspora.

Saudi Arabia

The Twins (1930)
by Abd AlQuddus Al Ansari             

Considered the first novel of Saudi literature, Abd AlQuddus Al Ansari’s The Twins was actually published two years before the modern Kingdom of Saudi Arabia was founded by King Abdulaziz Al Saud.

Released in Damascus in 1930, the novel was the author’s first attempt at fiction, exploring the potentially deleterious effects of western education on the East. In the book, twin brothers Rasheed and Fareed attend separate schools – one national and one foreign. Their paths could not diverge further, as one ends up a pillar of society, while the other dies shamefully in exile. The book was given a second life in 2011, when, 80 years after its initial publication, it received a theatrical adaptation in Saudi Arabia.

Cities of Salt (1984)
by Abdul Rahman Munif

Some novels on this list took years to find their audience. Abdul Rahman Munif’s Cities of Salt is not one of them. Credited with inventing the petro-fiction subgenre, Munif’s masterpiece received immediate praise globally after its initial publication in Lebanon in 1984. It is the first of a quintet of books, set in an unnamed state, each of which fictionally chart the multitudinous changes in the Arabian Gulf caused by the discovery of oil reserves. While Munif was born in Amman, outside of his home country, he spent years charting the development of the region’s oil industry as a journalist, editing the monthly journal AlNaft wal Tanmiya ('Oil and Development' in English) before he tried his hand at fiction.

Four Zero (1987)
by Raja Alam

Nearly 15 years before Raja Alam jointly won the 2011 International Prize for Arabic Fiction for The Doves Necklace, the Saudi author found regional acclaim with Four Zero. The book revolves around the life of Ahlam, a young Saudi woman striving for social connection amid a deeply traditional patriarchal society. Replete with Alam's signature rich and poetic prose, the novel reflects Saudi Arabia's society as it navigates between preserving tradition while looking outward to the world.

Phantoms of the Deserted Alleys (1995) 
by Turki Al Hamad

This trilogy of novels by Turki Al Hamad follow the life of Hisham Al Abir, who grows up in various cities in Saudi Arabia during the 1960s and 1970s. The period is marked by the economic and technological advancements of the kingdom and young Saudis grappling with their sense of identity.

Sudan

Season of Migration to the North (1964)
by Tayeb Salih  

Season of Migration to the North is considered, by many authors and critics, one of the best examples of Arabic fiction. The story of Sudan and its history of European colonialism is rendered through the perspective of two Sudanese men – the novel’s anonymous narrator and the enigmatic Mustafa Saeed – who returned to their homeland after time spent in Europe. Inspired by Sudan's oral storytelling tradition, Salih fuses his restrained prose and startling lyricism as the book's employs a deftly complex narrative that has the narrator both a witness to Saeed's story as well as a protagonist in his own journey. That psychological depth, combined with its keen look at the impacts of Africa's post-colonial past, makes Season of Migration to the North a milestone of Arabic literature.

The Wedding of Zein (1966) 
by Tayeb Salih

Before tackling weighty issues, such as Sudan's post-colonial history, Tayeb Salih wrote this vibrant novella that provides a light-hearted portrayal of rural life in Sudan. Following the marital pursuits of its eccentric titular character, The Wedding of Zein is a celebration of the communal nature of Sudanese society and how it is those considered outsiders who often spark profound and positive changes in their communities.

Syria

The Cane (1964)
by Sidqi Ismail

The Cane by Sidqi Ismail explores the development of political thought and Arab nationalism in Syria. It begins during its Ottoman era before delving into the period of the French mandate, following a group of characters that begins to rally for independence. The book is significant for its literary and historical merit, providing insights into the politics of Syria in the first half of the 20th century. 

Beirut Nightmares (1976)
by Ghada Samman

This feverish and hypnotic novel revolves around a woman who is trapped in her flat for two weeks during the Lebanese Civil War. Beirut Nightmares delves into the adverse psychological effects that come with living in a reality dominated by violence. The novel begins with its narrator pooling her rations with her neighbours but as the house arrest progresses and conditions become more stark, she is soon forced to act with a selfish resolve. As the fighting outside intensifies, so do her nightmares, which bleed into her waking moments with harrowing hallucinations. Beirut Nightmares is a searing and fearless novel that explores war from the perspective an everyday person caught in the crossfire. 

The Epidemic (1981)
by Hani Al Rahib

A novel that spans a century of Syrian history, The Epidemic is an ambitious work that resonates as sharply today as when it was published. The book intertwines fictional characters with real political figures. With a panoply of remarkable characters, most of whom embody marginalised ideologies, The Epidemic challenges totalitarian rule that snuffs out creativity and individual expression. According to Bassam Frangieh, who translated an excerpt of the novel for Banipal, the book was passed around among Syrian political prisoners. Al Rahib even owned a tattered copy that circulated the prison, with comments and signatures being added by the inmates. 

The Vortex (1981)
by Qamar Kilani

Through The Vortex, Qamar Kilani reflects on the cycles of daily routines and communal traditions, showing how difficult it is to be extricated from them. The novel is often lauded for its pacing, with studies dedicated to its structure and the literary techniques used to accelerate and slow time. The Vortex, set around the time of the 1967 Arab-Israeli war, is replete with memorable characters, but at its core is Haniyeh and her daughter Samia, who is on a journey of self-affirmation away from societal expectations. 

A Banquet for Seaweed (1983)
by Haidar Haidar

Haidar Haidar’s A Banquet for Seaweed is as controversial as it is admired. It tells the story of an Iraqi communist who flees to Algeria, where he meets an activist who has become disheartened by a failed revolution. The book was banned in Syria, as well as other countries in the Arab world. It was also dubbed as blasphemous by Egypt’s Al Azhar Al Sharif. However, Egypt  in 2000 decided to republish A Banquet for Seaweed, 13 years after its original release. The decision was met with protests in Cairo. Nevertheless, A Banquet for Seaweed is an important and sober novel, challenging authoritarian rule and revolutions alike. 

The End of a Brave Man (1989)
by Hanna Mina

One of Hanna Mina’s seminal works, The End of a Brave Man tackles themes of self-fulfilment and masculinity through a coming-of-age story set during the French mandate in Syria. At the novel’s centre is the son of a domineering farmer named Mufid, who runs from his village and is soon imprisoned following an argument with a French officer. The novel then follows Mufid across a series of misadventures before coming to an unforgettable ending. The End of a Brave Man was adapted for television in 1994 with Syrian star Ayman Zeidan in the lead role.

Yemen

The Hostage (1994)
by Zayd Mutee Dammaj

Regarded as a masterpiece of Yemeni literature, Dammaj's novel is celebrated for its nuanced portrayal of Yemeni society as it grapples between tradition, tribalism and politics. Set in the 20th century, during the reign of Yahya Muhammad Hamid ed-Din, the first king of the Mutawakkilite Kingdom of Yemen, the novel follows the experience of young boy taken hostage by the royal court to enforce his father' allegiance. The Hostage is one of the first novels to explore the nature of Yemeni society and knotty politics. Through its various translations, it placed the country’s literature scene on the map.