Patrick Süskind's 'The Pigeon' Now Available in Arabic

Patrick Süskind's 'The Pigeon' Now Available in Arabic
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Patrick Süskind's 'The Pigeon' Now Available in Arabic

Patrick Süskind's 'The Pigeon' Now Available in Arabic

Iraq's Dar Al Mada publishing house has released an Arabic translation of Patrick Süskind’s “The Pigeon.” The novel is translated by Kamiran Hoj, and the book’s introduction is written by Ali Badr.

“The protagonist in Süskind’s novel reflects an existential feeling of impotence: the inability to live, inability to love, and even inability to reject. But did he manage to find comfort in his secure island in this insecure world? Whatever we think of this protagonist, he always hated those events that disturb his inner stability, and the order of his life. However, the levels of uncertainty and fear are not the same; they don’t come from home, or from the small things, but from this irrational world,” writes Badr in the introduction.

This novel symbolizes chosen and forced isolation. A novel that exposes our impotent life, and explains how we, human beings, simply collapse under the pressure of the silly, and not necessarily, huge matters.

It’s a very realistic novel despite its imaginary end that eliminates the sad and cruel edge of this work. “Also, me, I increasingly spend most of my days in small rooms and face a growing challenge to leave them. However, I wish I can find a small room one day, a very small one that surrounds me tightly so I can take it with me when I leave,” said Süskind about his novel.

Süskind, writer of the world-known novel “Perfume,” is a mysterious personality, as “no one knows where he lives, what rituals he practices, his goals, his stances in critical causes, his thoughts about his peers, relationships, or his family,” reads Badr’s introduction.

The only available photograph of him features a skinny bald man with handsome features and dark eyes. He only appeared in four interviews and refused to partake in TV programs or festivals. He also rejected awards including the best literary work award (France, 1987), the Toucan Prize (1987), and the FAZ-Literaturpreis (1987). He never attended the premieres of the movies he wrote and never signed a book.



Cultural House Showcases Heritage at Najran Summer Festival

The Cultural House took part in the Najran summer festival which was organized by the Najran Municipality - SPA
The Cultural House took part in the Najran summer festival which was organized by the Najran Municipality - SPA
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Cultural House Showcases Heritage at Najran Summer Festival

The Cultural House took part in the Najran summer festival which was organized by the Najran Municipality - SPA
The Cultural House took part in the Najran summer festival which was organized by the Najran Municipality - SPA

The Cultural House took part in the Najran summer festival, organized by the Najran Municipality at Emirate Palace square in the Aba Al-Saud neighborhood.
The event featured a dedicated pavilion that offered visitors a rich cultural experience, showcasing authentic handicrafts and artworks by local artisans that reflected Najran’s unique heritage and cultural identity, SPA reported.
The initiative also highlighted the Cultural House’s commitment to empowering creative talents and enhancing cultural expression at public events.

The participation aligns with its broader mission to foster community engagement, promote cultural diversity, and support traditional crafts as a foundation of the creative economy.