The author’s novel “The Quail's Journey” was our book club selection for November 2010. Find more information on the novel, the author and her work on the book's page.
Name Sahar Tawfiq
Full Name Sahar Muhammad Hassan Tawfiq
Field Writer: stories, novels, stories for children;
Translator: English-Arabic
Education University of Al Azhar degree in Arab Language and Literature
English Language and Translation training: self education and training at the hands of famous Egyptian translators: Sa’d Zahran and Shawqy Jalal
Publications
I. Author of:
1. Bait el Anes, (Lonely Maiden’s House) short stories, El Dar, Cairo, 2006.
2. Rehlet es-Samman (The Journey of The Seagull), Novel, Merit, Cairo, 2005, republished: High Council of Culture, 2012.
3. Ta'am ez-Zaiton (The Taste of Olives) Novel, High Council of Culture, Cairo, 2000, republished: Egyptian Public Association of Books, 2003.
4. Points of the Compass: Short Stories, by Sahar Tawfiq, translated by Marilyn Booth, University of Arkansas Press, Fayetteville, USA, 1995. (Award of The University of Arkansas Press for Arab Literature in Translation, 1994).
5. Ann Tanhadera ash-Shams: (That the Sun May Sink) Short Stories, Fosoul Collection, Cairo, 1984.
II. Stories for Children:
6. As-Sultan Wa Tenin el-Bahr, (the Sultan and the Sea Dragon), Cairo, 2022.
7. Gazirat el-Qorsan : (The Pirate’s Island) Story for children, September 2001, Kuwait.
8. Assultan AlKaslan (The Lazy Sultan), Story for Children, January 2000, Kuwait.
III. Translations
1. Az-Zawag wal-Hadatha (Kenneth M. Cuno’s Modernizing Marriage), Cairo, 2023.
2. Ad-Dorr al-Manthour (Marilyn Booth's Classes of Ladies of Cloistered Spaces), Cairo, 2023.
3. Alesteshraq Haimana Mostamerra (Peter Gran's The Persistence of Orientalism), Cairo, 2023.
4. Bahron menal-Khokhash (Sea of Poppies), A Novel by: Amitav Gosh, Kalima, Abu Dhabi, 2022.
5. Al-Osoul al-Erqeyya wal-Reqq fi al-Sharq al-Awsat (Race and Slavery in the Middle East), Terence Walz & Kenneth M. Cuno, National Center for Translation, Cairo, 2019.
6. So’ud Ahlel Nefouz (The Rise of the Rich: A New View of Modern World History), Peter Gran, National Center for Translation, Cairo, 2017.
7. Kalam, (Kaalam), A Novel, M. T. VasudeVan Nair) Kalima, Abu Dhabi, 2016.
8. Sera’at Hawla Al Athar Al Masreyya (Conflicted Antiquities: Egyptology, Egyptomania, Egyptian Modernity) Elliott Colla), National Center for Translation, Cairo, 2016Sera’at Hawla Al Athar Al Masreyya (Conflicted Antiquities: Egyptology, Egyptomania, Egyptian Modernity – By: Elliott Colla), National Center for Translation, Cairo, 2016
9. Hayatona… Wa In Talat (The Long and Short of It: The Science of Life Span & Aging), Jonathan Silvertown, Kuwait, 2016.
10. Al-‘Awdah ela Al-Ard (Back to Earth: Adobe Building in Saudi Arabia), William Facey, Al-Turath, 2015.
11. Ebadet Al Arman (The Armenian Genocide: A Complete History), Reymond Kévorkian, Arminian Society in Cairo, 2015.
12. Madakhel Ela Gramshi (Approaches to Gramsci, by Ann Showstack Sasson), National Center for Translation, Cairo, 2016.
13. Bahth At-Taghyur Al-Egtema’i (Researching Social Change), Julie Mcleod & Rachel Thomson, National center for Translation, Cairo, 2014.
14. At-Tahmeesh Wal Mohamashoon: (Translation of the preface, 10 out of 12 articles and revising the other 2), Darel Ain, Cairo, 2012.
15. Mougaz Tareekh As-Sha’b al Armani (A Concise History of the Armenian People: From Ancient Times to the Present), George A. Bournoutian) Cairo, 2012
16. Al Ketabat At-Tarikheyya al Arabeyya ‘an al Ebadah al Armaneyya (Arab Historiography On The Armenian Genocide), Nikolay Hovhannisyan, Cairo, 2011
17. Hibatia.. wal-Hob al-Lazi Can (Hibatia’s Lover), D.R. Khashaba, Cairo, 2010.
18. Al Erhabeyya At-Tayyeba: Doris Lessing’s The Good Terrorist, Cairo, 2010
19. Alwanon Okhra, Orhan Pamuk's Other Colors,Darel Shurouq, Cairo, 2009
20. Al-Oshb Yughanni, Doris Lessing's The Grass is Singing, Egyptian Public Books Association, 2009
21. At-Tareeq At-Taweel: Muzakkerat Sabi Mujannad, Ishmael Beah's A Long Way Gone: Memoirs of a Boy Soldier, Dar As-Shorouq, Cairo, 2009
22. Shahirat An-Nisa': Adab At-Tarajem wa Seyasat An-Nou' fi Masr: May Her Likes be Multiplied: Biography and Gender Politics in Egypt, by Marilyn Booth, National Center of Translation, Cairo, 2009.
23. Al Haweyyah Wal-‘Onf: Wahmol-Maseer al-Hatmi: Amartia Sen’s Identity and Violence: The Illusion of Destiny, Kuwait, 2008.
24. Crake wa Orix: Margaret Atwood’s Orix & Crake, High council of Culture, Cairo, 2007
25. Nanmo M’al Elm (4 Volums, in participation with others), Elias Publishing House, Cairo, 2007
26. Min Ash-har El ‘Olama’ Al-‘Arab (Abul Qasem Al-Zahrawi), Elias Publishing House, Cairo, 2007
27. Min Ash-har Al-Falasefa Al-‘Arab (Ibn Sina), Elias Publishing House, Cairo, 2007
28. Al-Mozneba: Translation for the Margaret Atwood’s novel Alias Grace, High Council of Culture, Cairo 2005
29. Emara’a Muhareba: Translation for the Maxin Hong Kingston’s novel The Woman Warrior, High Council of Culture, Cairo, 2005.
2nd edition, Al-Mahrosa Publishing House, Cairo, 2021.
30. Ard el-Habayeb Be'eda Translation of Byram el Tunsi's Egypt, by Marilyn Booth, Cairo, 2002.
2d.edition, Egyptian Public Association of Books, 2015.
31. Falaho el-Basha: Translation, by Kenneth Kuno (The Pasha's Peasants), High Council of Culture, Cairo, 2000
32. Qesas Braziliah (Brazilian Short Stories) Translation, (Sahar Tawfiq and Khalil Kalfat), Kuwait, 2000.
IV. Other stories and translations and essays were published in many Egyptian and Arabic periodicals, such as:
Sabah el-Khair; Al-Arabi; Al-Arabi Al-Saghir; Al-Karmel; Al-Hayat; Al-Ahram; Al-Thaqafa Al-Gadida; Akhbar Al-Adab; Al-Rafid; Fosoul; Awraq; Al-Qahira; Ibda’; Al-Kitaba Al-Okhra; Sotour; Al-Baian; Al-Gasra; Nazwa; and other Egyptian and Arab periodicals.
V. Some of my stories were translated and published in collection books, as, for example:
a) Egyptian Tales and Short Stories of the 1970s and 1980s: Edited by M. Hutchins, AUC., 1987.
b) Betonblumen: Aus fernen Gross-stadten, Fischer, Hartmut Fändrich,1992.
c) My Grandmother's Cactus: Stories by Egyptian Women, Introduced and Translated by Marilyn Booth. Quartet Books Limited, London, 1991, republished: University of Texas Press, 1993.
d) Rose del Cairo: Racconti di scrittrice egiziane, A cura di Elisabetta Bartuli, Edizione e/o, Roma, 2001.
e) Parola di Donna, Corpo di Donna, antologia di scrittrice arabe contemporanee, a cura di Valentina Colombo, Oscar Mondadori, Italy, 2005.
f) Figli Del Nilo: Undici Scrittori Egiziani si Raccontano, cura e traduzione di Francesca Prevedello, Mesogea, Italy, 2006.
g) Le Miel Des Cactus, Anthologie de Romans et Nouvelles Arabes, (Voix Féminines du Moyen Orient), Souheir Twefik, Les Éditions du Panthéon, France, 2012.
h) 40 അറബി പെൺകഥകൾ (40 Arab Women Stories) Stories from Egypt, Lebanon, Palestine,Jordan, Iraq, Syria, Saudi Arabia, U.A.E., Bahrain, Oman, Kuwait, Yemen, Algeria, Libya, Sudan, Morocco. (compiled & Translated by: S.A.Qudsi, 2013)
Papers, Conferences and Other Activities
1. Paper titled: “Boundary of Translator’e Freedome: Translation Ethics”, The International Conference on Translation: A Project for Cultural Development”, Supreme Council of Culture and National Center for Translation, Cairo, 23-24 November 2016.
2. A siminar about translation, in partenership with Dr. Marilyn Booth, and introduced by Dr. Wa’el Hassan, by an invitation from the New York University in Abu Dhabi. 3d of Dec., 2014.
3. Participated in Fulbright Visiting Specialists Program: Direct Access to the Muslem World (March-April 2006), as writer-translator visitor to Ellinois University, Urbana-Champaign, USA. This contained many siminars and open discussions about writing and translating in the Illinois University and the community, and 2 siminars in Chicago University and Community.
4. Participated in the Arab Women Writers Film, as one of the Egyptian women writers, directed by Alia el Bialy, 1999.
5. Participation in several conferences in Cairo and other cities of Egypt, and proposing study papers, statements, siminars, etc.
6. Proposed study papers in several literature and women conferences in Cairo, and one in Copenhagen, 2000.
7. Participated in many TV programs, such as: Al-Qissa Al-Qasira (The First Channel); Al-Qissa Al-Qasira (The Forth Channel); Adab Wa Naqd (The Seventh Channel). Qamar Al-Nil (The Nile Culture Channel); plus participating in the Lightning Channel in a Program on Literature and Human Rights. Also participated in satelite channels.
8. Deliverd a Lecture about my literature and Egyptian literature today for American students visiting Egypt, first in Cairo, for students of Evergreen State University (Washington), supervised by Therese Saliba, 2004; Second, at the American University in Cairo, for students of University of Illinois, supervised by Kenneth Cuno, 2004.
9. Member of: Pen International, The Writers Union of Egypt, Asio-African Writers Union, Cairo Atelier
Awards and Grants
1) Honorary award from Ministery of culture and the national center for translation attended by the Minister of Cutlure, Helmy el Namnam, and the director of the Center, Dr. Anwar Mogheeth, (12, 28, 2017)
2) Fulbright Visiting Specialists Program: Direct Access to the Muslem World (14 March-29 April 2006).
3) Award of Arkansas University Press for Arab Literature in Translation for: Points of The Compass : Short Stories, Translated by Marilyn Booth
4) Ministry of Culture Grant (leave of absence from position in Ministry of Education to allow time for writing), 1996-2000.
5) A Leave of Absence Grant to spend 3 weeks time for writing in Le Châteaux de Lavigny, Switzerland, 2001.
Personal Information
Date of Birth 1951
Contact info 23, 155 St., Maadi, Cairo, Egypt p.c. 11431
(Cairo) ph. 00202 25263609 cel. 002010 10008211
(Dubai) cel. 00971 56 70 23237
E MAIL: sahartawfiq@gmail.com
Work Teacher, then Superior advisor in the Ministry of Education 1975-2002, resigned at April 2002.
Researcher at arabfilmtvschool@edu.eg, 2003-2004, resigned at April 2004.
Now, I concentrate all my time for writing and translating.
