Translator Alexander E. Elinson joins us to discuss Yassin Adnan’s Hot Maroc, a sprawling satire of contemporary Morocco. The novel, set in Marrakesh and online, follows the story of Rahhal Laouina, aka “The Squirrel,” who finds his voice as an anonymous internet troll – and then has it co-opted by the country’s security apparatus. While it paints a bleak picture of the possibilities of political dialogue, journalism, and self-expression, the novel itself is testament to literature’s ability to chart new imaginative territory.

Show Notes

Hot Maroc is available from Syracuse University Press in Alex Elinson’s translation

You can read an excerpt of the novel at Asymptote.

Aida Alami contextualizes the novel at Middle East Eye.

Adnan talks about the inspiration for the novel in an interview with the International Prize for Arabic Fiction

Translator Alexander E. Elinson joins us to discuss Yassin Adnan&rsquo;s Hot Maroc, a sprawling satire of contemporary Morocco. The novel, set in Marrakesh and online, follows the story of Rahhal Laouina, aka &ldquo;The Squirrel,&rdquo; who finds his voice as an anonymous internet troll &ndash; and then has it co-opted by the country&rsquo;s security apparatus. While it paints a bleak picture of the possibilities of political dialogue, journalism, and self-expression, the novel itself is testament to literature&rsquo;s ability to chart new imaginative territory.
Show Notes
Hot Maroc is <a href="https://press.syr.edu/supressbooks/3936/hot-maroc/">available from Syracuse University Press</a> in Alex Elinson&rsquo;s translation
You can read <a href="https://www.asymptotejournal.com/blog/2021/06/08/translation-tuesday-an-excerpt-from-yassin-adnans-hot-maroc/">an excerpt of the novel at Asymptote</a>.
Aida Alami contextualizes <a href="https://www.middleeasteye.net/discover/morocco-hot-maroc-yassin-adnan-debut-politics-review">the novel at Middle East Eye</a>.
Adnan talks about the inspiration for <a href="https://www.arabicfiction.org/en/Yassin-Adnan-interview-longlist">the novel in an interview with the International Prize for Arabic Fiction</a>

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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