This is Beirut

Salman Rushdie’s attacker to be sentenced this Friday

This is Beirut, 16/05 10:30 - Reading : 2 minute(s)

Salman Rushdie Writer Iran Culture Art Justice

Hadi Matar will be sentenced on Friday for trying to kill novelist Salman Rushdie in a 2022 knife attack at a New York cultural center. Hadi Matar, 27, faces up to 25 years in prison after being convicted of attempted murder and assault charges in February this year. During the trial, Rushdie told jurors about Matar "stabbing and slashing" him ...

Algeria Targets Author Kamel Daoud in Legal Dispute

This is Beirut, 13/05 13:00 - Reading : 2 minute(s)

Algeria France Writer Culture Art

Franco-Algerian writer Kamel Daoud, who is the subject of two international arrest warrants from Algeria and a legal complaint in France, called the legal actions against him “a form of judicial persecution” in an interview with the French daily Le Figaro on Monday. Daoud, who won the 2024 Goncourt Prize, also described the legal saga as “a ...

Peru Pays Final Tribute to Literary Giant Vargas Llosa

This is Beirut, 15/04 15:00 - Reading : 4 minute(s)

Culture Art Peru Mario Vargas Llosa Writer

The Peruvian flag flew at half-staff Monday as the South American country marked the passing of literary great Mario Vargas Llosa with a day of national mourning. Tributes poured in from around the world as President Dina Boluarte attended a private wake at the Vargas Llosa family home for the novelist and Nobel laureate, who died there Sunday ...

Algerian writer Boualem Sansal faces 10-year prison sentence

This is Beirut, 21/03 14:00 - Reading : 2 minute(s)

Algeria France Writer Human Rights

Algerian prosecutors have requested a 10-year prison sentence for French-Algerian writer Boualem Sansal, accused of undermining the country's territorial integrity, local media reported Thursday. Sansal, a prominent figure in North African modern Francophone literature, is known for his criticism of Algerian authorities as well as Islamists. The ...

Boualem Sansal Chooses to Defend Himself and Denies Hunger Strike

This is Beirut, 25/02 18:15 - Reading : 2 minute(s)

Algeria Censorship Culture Art Writer Journalist

The French-Algerian writer, who has been in custody since mid-November, has not begun a hunger strike nor halted his medical treatment, as stated by his lawyer in Paris. Instead, he intends to represent himself, according to Mohamed Baghdadi, the head of the Algiers Bar Association. "Contrary to what has been reported, he is not on a hunger ...

Writers Rally as Boualem Sansal Begins Hunger Strike

This is Beirut, 24/02 14:00 - Reading : 2 minute(s)

Algeria Censorship Writer Culture Art

Franco-Algerian writer Boualem Sansal, imprisoned in Algeria since mid-November, began a hunger strike on Monday, his lawyer told AFP on Sunday, citing information from a judicial source. "I fear for his health, as well as for the possibility of a fair trial," said François Zimeray, the writer’s French lawyer, confirming a report by Le Journal ...

Bruno Tabbal Presents His Novel 'Le Pays Dont On Ne Guérit Jamais'

Marie-Christine Tayah, 31/01 18:00 - Reading : 4 minute(s)

Lebanon Beirut Writer Theater Book

Bruno Tabbal takes readers on a remarkable journey with his novel Le pays dont on ne guérit jamais. At Le Monnot theater on Wednesday, February 5, from 5 PM onward, he merges literature and immersion for an unprecedented book signing experience. In his conversation with This is Beirut, Bruno Tabbal discusses his artistic and literary path. He ...

'Hope': Pope Francis Shares an Exceptional and Powerful Memoir

Madeleine Cadoux, 14/01 14:00 - Reading : 2 minute(s)

Pope Francis Book Culture Writer Writing Autobiography

On January 14, 2025, Pope Francis released Hope, an exceptional and unprecedented autobiography. Originally planned for posthumous publication, the text was advanced to mark the Jubilee Year of Hope. Published simultaneously in more than 80 countries, the book is a historic milestone: no living pope had ever written his memoirs before. Co-written ...

Bob Dylan’s Words, Music and Influence Transcend Generations

Madeleine Cadoux, 12/01 19:00 - Reading : 2 minute(s)

Music Culture Art Singer Composer Writer

Bob Dylan remains an unparalleled force in music and culture, influencing generations through his profound lyrics and innovative sound. From his iconic songs to his unexpected ventures, Dylan’s legacy continues to shape the artistic world. With upcoming auctions and new releases, his timeless influence endures, reminding us why he’s a true ...

British Novelist David Lodge, Passes into His 'Small World'

This is Beirut, 04/01 14:00 - Reading : 3 minute(s)

London UK Culture Literature Writer

David Lodge, the celebrated British novelist who earned two Booker Prize nominations, passed away on New Year's Day at the age of 89, his publisher announced on Friday. Known for his sharp wit and insightful commentary, Lodge's works such as Small World (1984) and Nice Work (1988) were both nominated for the prestigious literary award during the ...

Joseph Tarrab, Art Critic and Chronicler of Beirut, Has Passed Away

Marie-Christine Tayah, 02/01 12:20 - Reading : 2 minute(s)

Culture Heritage Art Journalist Writer Critic

A journalist, writer, theater enthusiast, and art critic, Joseph Tarrab’s career spanned decades, resulting in a remarkable body of books and articles. Bestowed the title of Officer of the Order by Henri Le Breton, cultural advisor and director of the French Institute of Lebanon, on behalf of French Culture Minister Aurélie Filippetti, his ...

Breyten Breytenbach, Poet and Anti-Apartheid Activist, Has Died

This is Beirut, 2024-11-25 15:30 - Reading : 3 minute(s)

Africa France Writer Activist

Breyten Breytenbach, one of the most honored South African writers, left an indelible mark on literature and activism. Born in 1939 in Bonnievale, a small town in the Western Cape, he grew up speaking Afrikaans, a language often tied to South Africa’s oppressive apartheid system. Yet, Breytenbach transformed his mother tongue into a powerful ...

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