Translations

As part of the award for the winning novel, when an English language publisher is found for the novel (by the rights owner, usually the original publisher), IPAF will pay the cost of translation into English for that publication. This is a commitment by IPAF which can be called on for up to 5 years after the announcement of the particular winner, but after this it is in IPAF’s discretion whether to meet this translation cost or any part of it.

IPAF will also consider making translation grants available for foreign language publication (not confined to English) of novels recognised by the prize. Priority is given to shortlisted novels and winners, although longlisted novels may be considered. For winners, this means publication in a language other than English (given IPAF’s separate commitment to funding a winner’s English language translation).

There is an amount set aside for these translation grants each year by IPAF, and in deciding which requests for support (made to the Administrator) will be met, consideration is given to the reach which the publication will have. This is not simply a quantitative assessment, as the possibility of introducing readers in languages which are new to, or under-served in translation of, contemporary Arabic novels is also important to IPAF. Grants are generally for a contribution to, but not the entirety of, the translation costs involved.

Recent winning IPAF novels which have been published or are forthcoming in English include Mohammed Alnaas’s Bread on Uncle Milad’s Table (winner 2022, anticipated publication in 2026 from HarperVia) and Basim Khandaqji’s A Mask, the Colour of the Sky (winner 2024, forthcoming from Europa Editions in 2026). A Mask, the Colour of the Sky has already been published in Italian (edizione/e) and Greek (Salto) and will be published in Portuguese and Spanish.