Introduction to Al-Harith Al-Nabhan
Al-Harith Al-Nabhan, a Syrian translator, has made a name for himself in the literary world by translating dozens of books into Arabic. Despite graduating with a degree in mechanical engineering from Damascus University, Al-Nabhan’s passion for translation has led him to focus on introducing important novels by unknown writers to the Arab scene.
Discovering New Authors
Al-Nabhan’s works include translations of novels by Norwegian author Karl Ove Knausgaard and Irish author David Park. He is drawn to translating authors who are still unknown to the Arabic reader, finding it exciting to explore new literary worlds. Al-Nabhan has translated four parts of Knausgaard’s sextet "My Struggle" and hopes to translate more of Park’s works in the future.
Translating Complex Texts
One of the challenges Al-Nabhan faced was translating the works of Hungarian writer László Krasnahorkai, whose sentences can be extremely long and complex. Al-Nabhan had to find ways to break up these sentences while maintaining their connection and meaning. He acknowledges that every translation involves some degree of "betrayal" of the original text, but this is a necessary compromise.
The Journey to Translation
Al-Nabhan’s relationship with translation began in the early 1990s, but he became a professional translator in 2005. His university studies in engineering have no direct connection to translation, but his love for reading and literature has been a major influence on his work. Al-Nabhan’s reading interests are diverse, ranging from ancient and contemporary Arab writers to scientific and historical themes.
The Impact of Migration
Al-Nabhan’s migration to the West has not significantly influenced his translation work, but it has broadened his horizons and views. He believes that the translator’s role is to accept or reject projects offered to them, rather than deciding on a specific "line" of work. Al-Nabhan hopes to have the opportunity to work on a long-term project with a publisher, allowing him to focus on a specific area of translation.
Choosing What to Translate
Al-Nabhan prefers translating novels, as he feels more comfortable and enjoys the process. He chooses from the projects offered to him, rather than selecting books based on their commercial potential. Al-Nabhan is not interested in market indicators or "bestseller" lists, but acknowledges that these books are often at the forefront of publishing interests.
Translation Problems in the Arab World
The problems of translation in the Arab world are closely tied to the problems of reading and publishing. Al-Nabhan believes that the Arab world has a limited reading culture, with few people interested in reading books. This is reflected in the low sales of translated books, with a thousand copies sold over three years considered a success.
The Power of Celebrity Endorsements
Al-Nabhan’s work gained more recognition when football star Mohamed Salah shared the cover of one of his translated books on social media. This had a significant impact on book sales and introduced Al-Nabhan’s work to a wider audience. He hopes that more celebrities will show an interest in culture and books, as this can have a positive effect on the literary world.
