Ghassan Zaqtan & Fady Joudah Win 2013 Griffin Poetry Prize

via Arab literature (in translation), & see also posts on Nomadics here & here, and the LA Review of Books, here. BY MLYNXQUALEY ON JUNE 14, 2013 • ( 0 ) Like a Straw Bird It Follows Me: and Other Poems, by Ghassan Zaqtan, trans. Fady Joudah, has won this year’s international Griffin Poetry Prize: The prestigious Griffin poetry prize is awarded annually in two categories — international and Canadian — and each winner receives C$65,000 in … Read more Ghassan Zaqtan & Fady Joudah Win 2013 Griffin Poetry Prize

Ghassan Zaqtan’s Canadian Visa

Last week I was in Glasgow, waiting for Algerian poet Habib Tengour as we were supposed to do a joint poetry reading and a shared presentation of our anthology of North African Literature at the University of Glasgow. Tengour never made it because he never received his visa for the UK, & his passport was returned to him too late for a planned trip to Algeria for a conference. And now … Read more Ghassan Zaqtan’s Canadian Visa

Ghassan Zaqtan’s Absence in Albany Today

—> Just learned that today’s event has been cancelled! <— For anybody in Albany or surrounds, please go to the events at the New York State Writers Institute at SUNY Albany that should have featured Palestinain poet Ghassan Zaqtan (who cannot be there as the US State Department has refused to give him a visa) but that will feature his translator, Fady Joudah, today Tuesday, 10 April: 4:15 p.m. … Read more Ghassan Zaqtan’s Absence in Albany Today

Times Union on Zaqtan

The Albany Times Union newspaper picks up the Ghassan Zaqtan visa story: Palestinian poet’s U.S. visit delayed over visa issues April 5, 2012 at 2:36 pm by Michael Janairo, Arts & Entertainment Editor The Palestinian poet Ghassan Zaqtan is known for descriptive language and delicate narratives, dealing with history, exile and return. Zaqtan, who is also a novelist, playwright and newspaper editor, is slated to discuss “Like a Straw Bird It … Read more Times Union on Zaqtan

PEN Presses for Visa for Palestinian Poet

from th PEN Advocacy pages: April 4, 2012 | Larry Siems Yesterday, we got word through our Translation Committee that Palestinian poet Ghassan Zaqtan , whose collection Like a Straw Bird It Follows Me is being released by Yale University Press this month, is still waiting for a visa to travel to the U.S. for a planned two-week book tour. The tour was to kick off yesterday with an event featuring Zaqtan and Fady Joudah, his translator, … Read more PEN Presses for Visa for Palestinian Poet