The Spartan Court takes Arabic Fiction Prize
Abdelouahab Aissaoui’s historical novel takes place during a pivotal period for Algeria.
In April, The Spartan Court by Algerian writer Abdelouahab Aissaoui won the 13th annual International Prize for Arabic Fiction. The novel takes place between 1815 and 1833, a pivotal period in Algeria’s history between Napoleon’s defeat at Waterloo and the visit by King Louis-Philippe’s African Commission, which encouraged colonisation as a matter of “national self-respect.” Employing a multilayered structure, it follows five characters: a French journalist, a French soldier who served in Napoleon’s army, and three Algerians with differing opinions regarding the Ottoman and French occupying presence and on what terms they should be accepted or resisted.
In crowning it from among 128 submissions from 18 countries, the jury praised Aissaoui’s polyphonic representation of viewpoints regarding colonialism and the reactions it provokes.
The Spartan Court marks the first time that an Algerian writer has won the IPAF. Aissaoui, who works as a maintenance engineer, is no stranger to prizes though. Among his accolades is Algeria’s prestigious Assia Djebar Prize, which he received for his second novel, Mountain of Death (2015). He nevertheless recognizes the importance of this prize. “Despite its short presence in the Arabic literary scene, the IPAF has proven its importance in all respects because of its connection to many international platforms, which offer to Arabic literature a place in the most important international cultural circles,” Aissaoui says.
The effects of such a win, he believes, are positive for the Algerian literary community, too.
“Many individual voices succeed each year in Arab prizes without any help from Algerian cultural institutions. Therefore, I believe that these names will shape the cultural scene in Algeria and create a new narrative phenomenon.”
