The Arch and the Butterfly by Mohammed Achaari, a Moroccan poet and novelist, and The Doves' Necklace by Raja Alem, a Saudi writer, are the joint winners of the International Prize for Arabic Fiction 2011,
the first time the prize has been won by two books. Alem is also the
first woman to win the prize, which was established in 2007.
Chair
of judges Fadhil Al-Azzawi, the Iraqi poet and novelist, said that the
books "are two wonderful novels with great literary quality and they
both deal with important and realistic problems in the Middle East,
problems which have been reflected on banners during the recent protests
that have shaken the Arab world, demanding change."
The Arch and the Butterfly
deals with "Islamic extremism and terrorism and its destructive effect
upon Arabic society itself, rather than on the West," Al-Azzawi said.
The Dove's Necklace
"reveals the true face of Mecca: behind the city's holy veil there is
another Mecca, where many crimes are committed and there is also
corruption, prostitution and mafias of building contractors who are
destroying the historic areas of the city, and therefore its soul, for
commercial gain."
The winners are splitting the $50,000 prize and
are guaranteed an English translation of their novels. Authors of the
shortlisted titles receive $10,000 each. The award, recognizing "the
very best of contemporary Arabic writing over the past year," is
sponsored by the Emirates Foundation for Philanthropy and the Booker
Prize Foundation.