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Translating Libya: In Search of the Libyan Short Story
Part anthology and part travelogue, Translating Libya presents the country through the eyes of seventeen Libyan short story writers and one American diplomat.Intrigued by the apparent absence of 'place' in modern Libyan short fiction, Ethan Chorin, one of the first U.S. diplomats posted to Libya, resolved in 2004 to track down and translate stories that specifically mentioned cities and landmarks in Libya - and then to visit those places, and describe what he encountered there. The result is a mixture of travelogue and memoir that sheds light on the social factors that fed the 2011 Revolution, and its aftermath. The collection includes pieces from the 'sixties generation' of writers, as well as a newer generation of Libyan writers, including several women, writing in a variety of styles, "twisted" 1001 nights, to allegory, fictionalized memoir and overt satire.First published in 2008, this was one of the first books to introduce Libyan literature to an English-speaking audience. The updated 2015 revision includes a Foreword by Ahmed Ibrahim Fagih, one of Libya's most recognised authors, a new Introduction and a selection of essays by the author written in light of the Libyan revolution along with additional short stories. Chorin explains how the stories, under cover of anonymity, distorted place-names and double-meanings reveal the depth of anger and despair that precipitated and fed the Arab Spring - and serve as a reminder to those who fought heroically for their freedom, that true courage springs from isolating, not repeating the mistakes of the past. [From Amazon.com]
- GenresLibyaMiddle East
336 pages, Paperback
Published October 22, 2015
About the author
Ethan Chorin
8 books11 followersExpert in US foreign policy and Libya, ex US diplomat, author of four books, including "Translating Libya", "Exit the Colonel" and "Benghazi!: A New History." Former Fulbright fellow (Jordan) and Fulbright Hays Fellow (Yemen), contributor to the New York Times, Financial Times, Foreign Affairs, Foreign Policy, Salon.com, Prospect, The National, Newsweek, BBC, Forbes.
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
March 31, 2026
As a translator myself, I knew I had to have this book as soon as I heard of its existence. I translate German to English, but I am learning the Libyan dialect of Arabic. It will take me some more time to get into communicating successfully and easily in the language itself, but it’s been a great adventure so far and I look forward to doing so. Learning new languages opens up new and surprising parts of the world, and you can rediscover the joy of reading books all over again. With Arabic, I also had to learn a new alphabet! But I digress as usual!
Thankfully, begins this with an explanation of how this book came to be, from his interest in Libya, to his position as an American diplomat, and wandering around bookstores looking for stories and authors to include, which sounds like an adventure, too.
The discussion of Libyans getting online in the 1990s and discovering other literature is nice as well. It must have been a fascinating time, but I hadn’t learned Arabic yet at that point! I was only discussing authors in English online in Yahoo groups. The internet has done good and bad things. It’s provided misinformation, but it’s also provided the means of accessing things we previously had no access to. Last week, I was watching Libyan cooking videos on YouTube. In the 1990s, learning Latin and Spanish, I wouldn’t have dreamed I could be doing that now. Learning how to make shorba from actual Libyans. In Arabic. There are wonderful things out there, if you know where to search for and what to be curious about.
Elsewhere I have discussed the negative and ignorant stereotypes some people have of this part of the world. This book and things like it are in stark contrast to that, and promote the idea of learning more about Libya’s culture and people and places. I knew they were probably hiding surprising and wonderful things in there, and if one looks hard enough, one can find these things. Some of them are in this book! Reading “The Good Hearted Salt Seller,” I felt like I had rediscovered the joy of reading I felt as a child and smiled to myself.
Books like this bring people and cultures together, and promote the wonderful and surprising points of view that Libya has to offer. Elsewhere I have heard people remark on Libyans having a good sense of humor and their own unique voice. The book is also separated into different parts of Libya. I have not finished it quite yet, but it’s been a great journey so far, and these are voices that deserve to be heard. The book is also useful when it comes to how to look for further information and authors. Since I have decided as of late to focus on Libyan Arabic in particular, I am sure I will be coming back to this and his other books in the future.
Thankfully, begins this with an explanation of how this book came to be, from his interest in Libya, to his position as an American diplomat, and wandering around bookstores looking for stories and authors to include, which sounds like an adventure, too.
The discussion of Libyans getting online in the 1990s and discovering other literature is nice as well. It must have been a fascinating time, but I hadn’t learned Arabic yet at that point! I was only discussing authors in English online in Yahoo groups. The internet has done good and bad things. It’s provided misinformation, but it’s also provided the means of accessing things we previously had no access to. Last week, I was watching Libyan cooking videos on YouTube. In the 1990s, learning Latin and Spanish, I wouldn’t have dreamed I could be doing that now. Learning how to make shorba from actual Libyans. In Arabic. There are wonderful things out there, if you know where to search for and what to be curious about.
Elsewhere I have discussed the negative and ignorant stereotypes some people have of this part of the world. This book and things like it are in stark contrast to that, and promote the idea of learning more about Libya’s culture and people and places. I knew they were probably hiding surprising and wonderful things in there, and if one looks hard enough, one can find these things. Some of them are in this book! Reading “The Good Hearted Salt Seller,” I felt like I had rediscovered the joy of reading I felt as a child and smiled to myself.
Books like this bring people and cultures together, and promote the wonderful and surprising points of view that Libya has to offer. Elsewhere I have heard people remark on Libyans having a good sense of humor and their own unique voice. The book is also separated into different parts of Libya. I have not finished it quite yet, but it’s been a great journey so far, and these are voices that deserve to be heard. The book is also useful when it comes to how to look for further information and authors. Since I have decided as of late to focus on Libyan Arabic in particular, I am sure I will be coming back to this and his other books in the future.
March 27, 2021
I read this as part of my choice for Libya , one of three countries chosen for March 2021 fir #invisiblecities 2020 where we are reading translated fiction.
It's always hard to review a short story compilation , as both the stories and the writers vary but I felt this book was only average .. I think Ethan Chorin the translator and compiler tries to hard to surround the stories with context , personal travels and encounters , literary context and his own reflections ..I think I would have simply preferred more stories and less Ethan Chorin . Although I do appreciate even obtaining the stories was very difficult .
The first edition was published in 2008 and Chorin , a US diplomat ,was keen to offer an more nuanced view of the country to a Western audience more familiar with older tropes of terrorism and extremism ..after the Arab Spring another edition was published in 2015 with some further reflections . It'd be interesting to have a third edition in 2021 as Libyan writers will still have some very powerful stories to tell.
As to the stories some are very simple indeed , a couple offer satire and allegory is used to make political points critical of the regime . I just wish there had been more ...
It's always hard to review a short story compilation , as both the stories and the writers vary but I felt this book was only average .. I think Ethan Chorin the translator and compiler tries to hard to surround the stories with context , personal travels and encounters , literary context and his own reflections ..I think I would have simply preferred more stories and less Ethan Chorin . Although I do appreciate even obtaining the stories was very difficult .
The first edition was published in 2008 and Chorin , a US diplomat ,was keen to offer an more nuanced view of the country to a Western audience more familiar with older tropes of terrorism and extremism ..after the Arab Spring another edition was published in 2015 with some further reflections . It'd be interesting to have a third edition in 2021 as Libyan writers will still have some very powerful stories to tell.
As to the stories some are very simple indeed , a couple offer satire and allegory is used to make political points critical of the regime . I just wish there had been more ...
May 2, 2023
An exciting collections of short stories not so well-known in the panorama of contemporary Libyan literature. The work of Ethan Chorin is precious, as most of the works/sources are difficult to find in the West and this collection represents a powerful and intersting insight of the Libyan culture. The book is enriched by the autgor's personal considerations on Libya and its various realities that alternate with translations, in a way that makes it look almost like a travel diary. Definitely a recommended read!
December 21, 2017
The authors open a window on a rapidly urbanizing country with rich oil reserves, recently renewed diplomatic relations with the West and a nascent tourist industry based on its well-preserved ancient cities.
Reviewed on The BookBlast® Diary 2017
Reviewed on The BookBlast® Diary 2017
April 19, 2023
The stories Ethan translates really capture the true essence of Libya. A fantastic read overall!
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews