The 2022 Saif Ghobash Banipal Prize Lecture will be given by the scholar, Arabist and translator HARTMUT FÄHNDRICH. He poses a question for literary translators: “St Jerome or St Christopher?”

Join us for a fascinating insight into his 40 years of bringing contemporary Arabic literature into the wider world through the ‘dubious’ pleasure of translation. After the Q&A, there will be a reception for those physically present.

Hartmut Fähndrich, became, in his own words, a “fanatical translator of contemporary Arabic literature” into German after discovering in 1982 “practically no publications, nothing translated”. He has translated 70 works of contemporary Arabic fiction, while his awards include Switzerland’s annual Special Award for Translation in 2016 – the first time for translation from Arabic – and in 2018, the Sheikh Hamad Award (Qatar)

The Lecture will be simultaneously live-streamed on the British Library platform. Tickets (from £5 to £11) may be booked to attend in person (physical), or to watch on the online platform, either live or within 48 hours on catch up. Viewing links will be sent out shortly before the event. Go to: www.bl.uk/events/ or email: boxoffice.bl.uk.