Our guest this week was once told there were no Algerian crime novels. She begs to differ. We discuss the many examples of the genre and its evolution in Algeria, Morocco and Egypt. 

Show Notes:

Nadia Ghanem regularly covers Algerian and Moroccan literature -- particularly crime fiction -- for ArabLit. She has a wonderful crime-lit overview, "The Story of 50 Years of Algerian Crime Fiction in 60+ Books," and also a short translation of a work by Chawki Amari, ‘Murder at Algiers’ Book Fair’.

A few of Nadia's favorite Algerian crime novels: Adel s’emmele by Salim Aissa (ENAL editions, 1988), Kharidj el-Saytara (خارج السيطرة) by Abdelatif Ould Abdellah (El-Ikhtilef editions,  2016), Sakarat Nedjma (سكرات نجمة) by Amel Bouchareb (Chihab editions, 2015), 1994 by Adlene Meddi (Barzakh editions, Algeria, also released in France by Rivage editions in 2018), La prière du Maure by Adlene Meddi  (Barzakh editions, 2008), Le casse-tête turc by Adlene Meddi (Barzakh editions, 2002).

Yasmina Khadra is the pen name of Algerian writer Mohammed Moulessehoul. He has written many books, including a series of brilliant detective novels, which have also been translated into English. 

The Moroccan writer Driss Chraibi’s Inspector Ali is the hero of his acclaimed detective novels. 

The 2017 Egyptian noir film The Nile Hilton Incident take place just before the outbreak of the Arab Spring in Cairo. 

Nael Eltoukhy, author ofWomen of Karantina (tr. Robin Moger), wrote "Some Advice on Avoiding Censorship" for the Summer 2020 crime-themed issue of ArabLit Quarterly.

Ahmed Mourad'sVertigo, also tr. Moger, follows a story of crime and corruption through a photographer-sleuth's lens.

Elias Khoury'sWhite Masks is his only murder-mystery; it has been translated by Maia Tabet. 

Several of Abdelilah Hamdouchi's crime novels have been translated and published by Hoopoe.

Our guest this week was once told there were no Algerian crime novels. She begs to differ. We discuss the many examples of the genre and its evolution in Algeria, Morocco and Egypt.&nbsp;
Show Notes:
Nadia Ghanem regularly covers Algerian and Moroccan literature -- particularly crime fiction -- for ArabLit. She has a wonderful crime-lit overview, "<a href="https://arablit.org/2019/11/18/the-story-of-50-years-of-algerian-crime-fiction-in-60-books/">The Story of 50 Years of Algerian Crime Fiction in 60+ Books</a>," and also a short translation of a work by Chawki Amari, <a href="https://arablit.org/2018/11/02/murder-at-algiers-book-fair/">&lsquo;Murder at Algiers&rsquo; Book Fair&rsquo;</a>.
A few of Nadia's favorite Algerian crime novels: <a href="http://tellemchaho.blogspot.co.uk/2015/10/adel-semmele-by-salim-aissa-book-review.html">Adel s&rsquo;emmele</a> by <a href="http://tellemchaho.blogspot.co.uk/2015/10/adel-semmele-by-salim-aissa-book-review.html">Salim Aissa (ENAL editions, 1988)</a>, Kharidj el-Saytara (خارج السيطرة) by Abdelatif Ould Abdellah (El-Ikhtilef editions,&nbsp; 2016), <a href="https://arablit.files.wordpress.com/2019/11/a302a-sakarat2bnedjma.jpg">Sakarat Nedjma</a> (سكرات نجمة) by Amel Bouchareb (Chihab editions, 2015), <a href="https://amzn.to/2NIaIeC">1994</a> by Adlene Meddi (Barzakh editions, Algeria, also released in France by Rivage editions in 2018), <a href="http://tellemchaho.blogspot.co.uk/2015/10/la-priere-du-maure-by-adlene-meddi-book.html">La pri&egrave;re du Maure</a> by Adlene Meddi&nbsp; (Barzakh editions, 2008), Le casse-t&ecirc;te turc by Adlene Meddi (Barzakh editions, 2002).
Yasmina Khadra is the pen name of Algerian writer Mohammed Moulessehoul. He has written many books, including a series of brilliant<a href="https://livre.fnac.com/a2234815/Yasmina-Khadra-Le-quatuor-algerien"> detective novels</a>, which have also been translated<a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/bookseries/B00CKCLJ3I/ref=dp_st_1592641199"> into English</a>.&nbsp;
The Moroccan writer Driss Chraibi&rsquo;s<a href="https://www.amazon.com/Linspecteur-English-French-Driss-Chraibi/dp/2070388107"> Inspector Ali</a> is the hero of his acclaimed<a href="https://booknode.com/serie/inspecteur-ali"> detective novels</a>.&nbsp;
The 2017 Egyptian noir film<a href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt5540188/"> The Nile Hilton Incident</a> take place just before the outbreak of the Arab Spring in Cairo.&nbsp;
Nael Eltoukhy, author of<a href="https://amzn.to/2ObS9yY"> Women of Karantina</a> (tr. Robin Moger), wrote "Some Advice on Avoiding Censorship" for<a href="https://arablit.org/2020/06/30/launching-today-arablit-quarterly-summer-2020-the-crime-issue/"> the Summer 2020 crime-themed issue of ArabLit Quarterly</a>.
Ahmed Mourad's<a href="https://amzn.to/2ZdPtaj"> Vertigo</a>, also tr. Moger, follows a story of crime and corruption through a photographer-sleuth's lens.
Elias Khoury's<a href="https://amzn.to/3gUxgEX"> White Masks</a> is his only murder-mystery; it has been translated by Maia Tabet.&nbsp;
Several of<a href="https://hoopoefiction.com/hoopoe-author/abdelilah-hamdouchi/"> Abdelilah Hamdouchi's crime novels</a> have been translated and published by Hoopoe.

BULAQ is a book-centric podcast co-hosted by Ursula Lindsey (in Amman, Jordan) and M Lynx Qualey (in Rabat, Morocco). It focuses on Arabic literature in translation and is named after the first printing press established in Egypt in 1820. Produced by Sowt.

BULAQ is a book-centric podcast co-hosted by Ursula Lindsey (in Amman, Jordan) and M Lynx Qualey (in Rabat, Morocco). It focuses on Arabic literature in translation and is named after the first printing press established in Egypt in 1820. Produced by Sowt.

BULAQ | بولاق

BULAQ is a podcast about contemporary writing from and about the Middle East and North Africa. We talk about books written in Aleppo, Cairo, Marrakech and beyond. We look at the Arab region through the lens of literature, and we look at literature -- what it does, why it matters, how it relates to society and history and politics -- from the point of view of this part of the world.  BULAQ is co-produced by ArabLit and The Arabist and is hosted by Ursula Lindsey and M Lynx Qualey.

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