The Department of Middle Eastern Studies has appointed Hoda Barakat, an internationally acclaimed author, as the inaugural Fall 2013 Arabic Scholar in Residence.

“The Arabic Scholar in Residence program will provide students with the opportunity to work closely with prominent Arab intellectuals,” says Tarek El-Ariss, assistant professor of Modern Arabic Literature in the Department of Middle Eastern Studies.  “It will deepen our students’ interest in modern Arabic language and literature, and it will bolster intercultural communication between the U.S. and the Arab world.”

Barakat is the recipient of the prestigious Naguib Mahfouz Medal for Literature and the Al-Naqid Award. Her recent novel “Kingdom of this Earth” was long-listed for the 2012 Arabic Booker Prize. Her novels have been translated into more than a dozen languages.

Barakat will teach a graduate course on modern Arabic literature and will collaborate with students on a translation of her work. During her residency, the department will host public events focusing on her work and bring experts in the field from across the country to Austin. In addition, she will be available to present talks and workshops at other universities and cultural centers in the United States.