Habib Selmi (Tunisian Arabic: حبيب السالمي) (born 31 January 1951) is a Tunisian novelist and short story writer.[1]

Habib Selmi
Born (1951-01-31) 31 January 1951 (age 73)
Tunisia
OccupationNovelist

Early life

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He was born in Al-Ala near the historic city of Kairouan. To date, he has published eight novels and two short story collections.[citation needed]

Career

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His books include:

  • Jabal al-'Anz (Goat Mountain), 1988
  • Surat Badawi Mayyit (Portrait of a Dead Bedouin), 1990
  • Matahat al-Raml (Sand Labyrinth), 1994
  • Hufar Dafi'a (Warm Pits), 1999
  • Ushaq Bayya (Bayya's Lovers), 2002
  • Asrar Abdallah (Abdallah’s Secrets), 2006
  • Rawaïh Marie-Claire (The Scents of Marie-Claire), 2008
  • Nisāʾ al-basatīn (The Women of al-Basatin), 2011
  • Al-ishtīāq ilā al-jāra (Longing for the Woman Next Door), 2020

His work has been shortlisted three times for the International Prize for Arabic Fiction, in 2009 (for The Scents of Marie-Claire), 2012 (for The Women of al-Basatin), and 2021 (for Longing for the Woman Next Door).[2][3] His work has been translated into a number of languages, including English and French and has featured in multiple issues of Banipal magazine.[1]

Selmi has lived in Paris since 1985, where he teaches Arabic literature.

References

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  1. ^ a b Profile on Banipal magazine website
  2. ^ "Habib Selmi | International Prize for Arabic Fiction". www.arabicfiction.org. Retrieved 2022-03-22.
  3. ^ "Interview with shortlist author Habib Selmi | International Prize for Arabic Fiction". www.arabicfiction.org. Retrieved 2022-03-22.