Ten years after the passing of Radwa Ashour, one of Egypt’s most celebrated novelists, her sweeping masterpiece Granada Trilogy continues to captivate readers worldwide. Spanning over a century of history, the trilogy explores the lives of those who remained in Andalusia after the fall of Granada, weaving a narrative of faith, hope, and resilience amid the transformative historical shifts of 16th-century Europe. Recognized as one of the top 100 literary works of the 20th century by the Arab Writers Union, this literary multigenerational epic is now available in a single, complete translation. In November 2024, AUC Press hosted a virtual book discussion moderated by Marcia Lynx Qualey, editor of Arabic Literature: In Translation and a noted literary critic.
The panel featured the trilogy’s award-winning translator Kay Heikkinen, fellow translator Sarah Enany, and Mayte Green-Mercado, associate professor of history and director of the Institute for the Study of Global Racial Justice at Rutgers-Newark. Together, they explored the enduring significance of Ashour’s work of art and the effort behind bringing it to a global audience.
Marcia opened the event with a warm introduction about Radwa Ashour and her masterpiece novel, welcoming the speakers and setting the stage for the discussion.
Radwa Ashour: A Towering Literary Figure
“Radwa Ashour is obviously a towering presence in the Egyptian literary tradition,” said Sarah Enany, emphasizing that Ashour’s brilliance as a novelist transcended gender, she added “she would be a great novelist even if she was a man.”
“Her setting and her historical accuracy are amazing . . . her historical accuracy has been lauded by a lot of people” Enany added, noting that Ashour managed to strike a delicate balance between storytelling and historical accuracy.
“The whole thing of playing fast and loose with history is something that Radwa could very well have fallen into, but she didn’t. She ended up being extremely accurate historically, and that combination of historical accuracy, captivating characters, and a plot that makes us care beyond just reading history is truly remarkable,” Enany explained. She also highlighted Ashour’s influence on subsequent historical novelists, such as Rasha Adly, whose The Girl with Braided Hair follows in Ashour’s literary footsteps.
Translating Granada: A Journey of Discovery
Kay Heikkinen reflected on her personal and professional connection to both Ashour and the masterpiece, Granada trilogy. “I was fortunate enough to meet both Dr. Radwa and the trilogy when I was a non-traditional student in CASA (the Center for Arabic Study Abroad) at the beginning of the 2000s. I thought, ‘I have to read this,’” she shared.
Discussing the challenges of translating the trilogy, Heikkinen highlighted the complexities of preserving the tone when handling verb tenses in the original Arabic. “The constant problem in Arabic translation is time. Arabic uses a great deal of the present when it’s clearly referring to the past. How do you deal with that and keep the freshness of the tone while making the tenses work?” she asked emphasizing that this was a significant challenge.
Heikkinen also addressed her approach to cultural nuances in translation. “I don’t believe in a great deal of foreignizing because I want to invite readers in; I don’t want to make them work too hard. But at the same time, I assume that part of the readership will be Arabs or other Muslims who know the culture very well. You want to make things recognizable for them without familiarizing them to the point of erasure,” she explained.
A History of Resilience and Resistance
Mayte Green-Mercado offered a historical perspective on Ashour’s work, describing it as both a cautionary tale and a symbol of resilience. “This novel and this period that is being explored serve as a cautionary tale of the perils of a community divided, but also as a symbol of resistance and resilience. The history told in these novels gives us a glimpse into the past,” she said.
Green-Mercado also expressed admiration for Ashour’s ability to craft intricate references that transcended historical records. “Sometimes I would burst out laughing, thinking, ‘How did she write this? What was she reading? How is it possible that she’s making references that don’t necessarily appear in the history books,” she said.
Timeless Work for Global Readers
Radwa Ashour’s Granada: The Complete Trilogy remains a cornerstone of Arabic literature, a testament to Ashour’s mastery as a novelist and historian. This masterpiece is now available in a complete translation, this literary gem invites a new generation of readers to experience its profound narrative and enduring themes.
You can find Granada at major bookstores worldwide.
