Waciny Laredj
Waciny Laredj is an Algerian novelist, short story writer and academic.
Biography
Laredj was born in Sidi Bou Jnan in Tlemcen province. He obtained a BA in Arabic literature from the University of Algiers and then went off to Syria to pursue postgraduate studies, aided by a government scholarship. He obtained an MA and a PhD from the University of Damascus.Having finished his studies, he returned to Algeria and took up an academic position at his alma mater, the University of Algiers. He continued to teach there till 1994. The outbreak of civil war in Algeria in the 1990s forced Laredj to leave the country. After a short time in Tunisia, he moved to France and joined the faculty of the Université Paris III-New Sorbonne, where he taught Arabic literature.
As a writer, Laredj is well known throughout the Arabic- and French-speaking countries. Beginning in the early 1980s, he has published more than a dozen books. His novels often deal with the troubled history of his native Algeria. He translated himself some of his books into French. At least two of his books were available in French before they were available in Arabic.
Laredj and his wife Zineb Laouedj, have collaborated on an anthology on African literature in French, titled Anthologie de la nouvelle narration africaine. In the past, Laredj has produced literary programmes for Algerian television. He has also contributed a regular column to the Algerian newspaper El Watan.
Awards and honors
- 2007 Sheikh Zayed Book Award for Literature, winner for The Prince's Book: The Paths of the Wooden Gates
- 2011 International Prize for Arabic Fiction, longlisted for البيت الأندلسي
- 2014 International Prize for Arabic Fiction, longlisted for رماد الشرق
- 2015 Katara Prize for Arabic Novel, inaugural winner of the grand prize valued at $260,000 for Butterfly Kingdom
- 2023 Great Arab Mind Award for Literature and Art, in recognition of his outstanding literary contributions.
Personal life
Laredj is married to the poet Zineb Laouedj. They have two children.Selected works
al-Bawwaba al-Zarqa Waqa'i min Awja Rajulin Ghamara Sawb al-Bahr Waq al-Ahdhiya al-Khashina Ma tabaqqa min Sirat Lakhdar Hamrush,Nuwwar al-Lawz Masra Ahlam Maryam al-Wadi'a Asmak al-Barr al-Mutawahhish Damir al-Gha'ib Faji'at al-Layla al-Sabi'a ba'd al-Alf, Raml al-Maya La Gardienne des ombres. Don Quichotte à Alger Les Miroirs de l’aveugle al-Makhtuta al-Sharqiyya Kitab al-Amir: masalik abwab al-hadid Al-Bayt al-Andalusi Mamlakatu al farasha- ''Nissaou Casanova''