Hoopoe Books -- A New Imprint is Born
In a recent American University in Cairo Press newsletter, Dr. Nigel Fletcher-Jones, the press's director, announced the launch of a new Imprint named "Hoopoe" after the strikingly-feathered middle-eastern bird. "The aim is to offer bold, contemporary writing [..] to readers who may not be familiar with the region, and to select Arabic fiction that challenges headlines, re-imagines histories, and celebrates original storytelling," said Dr Nigel. The hoopoe is a "beautiful bird found across the Middle East, known for its distinctive crown of black and white feathers, as well as its unique call. In ancient Egypt, the hoopoe was considered a source of good fortune, and in the holy books it is depicted as a trusted messenger." Three translated novels are offered for this, their first season: The Televangelist by Ibrahim Essa, an eye-opening satire on Egyptian social mores; Whitefly by Abdelilah Hamdouchi, a murder mystery about Moroccan ill...