The Book of Sana'a

If you'd like to challenge any preconceived ideas you might have about Yemen and Yemenis, I can highly recommend reading Comma Press’s anthology about the Yemeni capital, The Book of Sana’a, edited by Laura Kasinof - https://lnkd.in/esaDB8t3. 

It also happens to feature my translation of Rim Mugahed’s compelling short story, “The Ruse of Sana’a”, about a young Yemeni girl forced to become the breadwinner for her family after her father is kidnapped by the Houthis.

I also particularly enjoyed reading "The General Secretariat of Speedbumps" by Hayel AL-Mathabi, translated by Christiaan James - a hilariously scathing indictment of state nepotism.

Many thanks to University of Bristol Translation and Interpreting, without whom I wouldn’t have had this opportunity.

You can read a review of the anthology in the Irish Times by Frank Wynne here: https://lnkd.in/efX7gQbD

My translation is also available as part of the Google Books preview: https://lnkd.in/eszEZ5nv.