About Banipal
Banipal Publishing showcases today’s Arab authors in English translation – through Banipal magazine, founded in 1998 by Margaret Obank and Iraqi author Samuel Shimon, and published three times a year; Banipal Books (founded 2005); and the Saif Ghobash–Banipal Prize for Arabic Literary Translation (first awarded in 2006).
Banipal has published hundreds of contemporary Arab authors in English translation, each magazine issue a wealth of poetry, fiction, interviews, book reviews, author photographs.
In March 2008 Banipal won the UK Incwriters 2008-2010 Award for Outstanding Contribution to Literature (Magazines) – an immensely proud moment for the magazine to be “recognised, selected and celebrated by our peers in literature in the UK”.
The Banipal – Arab British Centre Library of Modern Arab Literature will soon be launched, and ready to join at 1 Gough Square, London EC4A 3DE.
“Banipal is almost my chief source of information about current Arabic writing and cultural events. Without Banipal I would be much less well-read. Its past issues constitute an incomparable archive.” – Robert Irwin
“A combination of newly awakened curiosity about the Arab world and the tireless efforts of Banipal, an independent magazine committed to making Arab authors available to an English readership, may be about to extend our horizons.” – Stephanie Merritt, The Observer
Banipal takes its name from Ashurbanipal, last great king of Assyria and patron of the arts, whose outstanding achievement was to assemble in Nineveh, from all over his empire, the first systematically organised library in the ancient Middle East. The thousands of clay tablets of Sumerian, Babylonian and Assyrian writings included the famous Mesopotamian epics of the Creation, the Flood, and Gilgamesh, many folk tales, fables, proverbs, prayers and omen texts.
Featured Titles
 | Shepherd of Solitude – Selected Poems by Amjad Nasser Shepherd of Solitude is Amjad Nasser's first English collection, translated and introduced by the foremost translator of contemporary Arabic po... £7.95 |  | Knife Sharpener – Selected Poems by Sargon Boulus Knife Sharpener – Selected Poems is a posthumous commemoration and celebration of Sargon Boulus, in a collection of poems, written between 1991... £7.95 |
Online Catalogue:
Contact Details:
w: http://www.banipal.co.ukt: +44 (0)20 7832 1350
f: +44 (0)20 8568 8509
1 Gough Square
London
EC4A 3DE
United Kingdom