IPAF authors recognised with awards from Hana Wakim and English PEN

14 December 2011

IPAF 2012 longlisted novel The Vagrant (also known as Chased Away), by Lebanese author Jabbour Douaihy, has been awarded the Hanna Wakim Prize. The Hanna Wakim Prize is an annual Lebanese fiction prize chosen by secondary school children worth $10,000. Each year, the Hanna Wakim Foundation selects a jury of 5 students, and 5 teachers to mentor them, from several schools across Lebanon. Students are to read 5 books or more, selected by the Foundation, and comment on them. At the end of the year, one book is chosen by the jury and awarded the Hanna Wakim Prize, consisting of 10,000 USD. Douaihy was presented his prize by Hanna Wakim’s son, Eli Wakim.  

There has been further success for The Lady from Tel Aviv by Rabai al-Madhoun, which was shortlisted for the IPAF in 2010. It is one of four titles to receive an award from English PEN as part of their ‘Writers in Translation’ programme. Supported by Bloomberg, the programme promotes and supports literature in translation. Each year, a dedicated committee of professionals selects between 6-8 books that are translated into English from a wide variety of foreign languages. Once selected, English PEN awards grants to UK publishers to help promote, market and champion these titles.