Abdelouahab Aissaoui | |
---|---|
Born | March 1985 |
Notable awards | International Prize for Arabic Fiction 2020 |
Abdelouahab Aissaoui (born 1985) is an Algerian writer. He was born in Djelfa and studied engineering at Zayan Ashour University. He has written a series of novels, the most recent of which, The Spartan Court, won the International Prize for Arabic Fiction (IPAF) in 2020.[1][2][3]
He was born in Djelfa, Algeria, in 1985.[4] He studied there at the Zayan Ashour University, graduating with a degree in electromechanical engineering. He works as a maintenance engineer.[5]
He is the first Algerian to win the IPAF.[6] He also participated in the International Prize for Arabic Fiction Nadwa in 2016.[6]
The Spartan Court has been described as "polyphonic," offering "a multilayered insight into the historical occupation of Algeria, and, from this, the conflicts of the entire Mediterranean region."[6] It is set in Algiers from 1815 to 1833.[8][6] Yasir Suleiman described the book as "captivating" and "a work to celebrate," with "intertwined narratives that keep the reader glued to its enchanting characters and their tortuous fortunes."[6]
Mountain of Death tells the story of Spanish communists imprisoned in North Africa following the Spanish civil war.[6]