Lably
Skip to content

Bahraini literature

  • 3 min read
  • 3 chapters

Explore on Lably

ToursExplore Lably’s 3D tours

History

In August 2004, the supernatural thriller book QuixotiQ, by former Bahraini journalist Ali Al-Saeed, was published, marking the first time ever a Bahraini author has published a novel directly in English without requiring a translation. In February 2011, Bahraini writers, artists and intellectuals signed a statement declaring their solidarity with the Egyptian revolutionary movement.

Female writers

Poetry was the principal form of literature Bahraini women engaged in during the 20th century. In fact, it was estimated that one-sixth of all Bahraini poets between 1925 and 1985 were women. Prominent female writers at the time included the likes of Iman Asiri, Fatima al-Taytun, Fathiya 'Ajlan, Hamda Khamis and Fawziyya al-Sindi.

In the second half of the 20th century, prose as well as free verse poetry gained popularity in the country, especially amongst women. However, it was only until 1969 did women finally emerge on the free verse and prose scene, with the publication of Shazaya (Arabic: شظايا, meaning "shrapnel") by Hamda Khamis, which was coincidentally Khamis' first experience in poetry. Iman Asiri was the first recorded poet to write and publish a prose poem in the country in the late 1960s.

Sign in to keep reading

2 more chapters are free with a Lably account.

More in Literature

MahabharataAncient smṛti text and Sanskrit epicOxford English DictionaryHistorical dictionary of the English languageScience fictionLiterary genreIliadEpic poem attributed to HomerLiteratureWritten work of artPoetryForm of literature