56 CIBF Explores "Love and War in the Eyes of Children"

On Sunday, the Cairo International Book Fair hosted an engaging seminar on Love and War in the Eyes of Children by Mahmoud Arafat. Published by the National Center for Translation, the session marked the release of English and French translations of the book, by Dr. Nada Hegazy and Dr. Bashayer Allam, respectively. 

Moderated by Dr. Ahmed Ali Mansour, the seminar addressed several important themes, including the social impacts of war on children, as portrayed through real-life stories in the book.

Dr. Ahmed Ali Mansour underscored that Arabic literature has immense potential to resonate with global audiences. 

He also reflected on Arafat’s literary contributions, detailing the history and legacy of his acclaimed novels.

Arafat shared his personal experiences and perspectives on the themes of war and peace, recalling several memories and experiences like his life as a university student in the 1969 War.

The seminar also examined the story of a young boy who joined the army during the Six-Day War, shedding light on the boy’s journey and obstacles. 

Dr. Karma Sami, Director of the National Center for Translation, highlighted the center's growing efforts to translate Arabic works into other languages to make Egyptian and Arabic literature more accessible to non-Arabic speakers.

In addition, she praised the translators' efforts and the accuracy of their work.

Sami also announced that the book is now available as an audiobook to be more accessible to wider fanbases. 

Dr. Nada Hegazy expressed her motivations for undertaking the project in an interview with SEE News. 

She noted that the book reflects a vital and authentic Egyptian experience, providing international audiences with a genuine narrative as lived and witnessed by Egyptians.

Hegazy emphasized the importance of enriching the translation movement from Arabic to other languages, which she believes requires a stronger push.

Hegazy, a lecturer at the Faculty of Al-Alsun at Ain Shams University, asserted that among the challenges of translating the book was translating the cultural elements without compromising the original meaning.

She revealed that she finished the translation in approximately three weeks, highlighting the importance of translating more books from Arabic to foreign languages.