(After Covid-19) We should perhaps be more open to such novel relationships with books and festivals. Of course, we are accustomed to book festivals. It is an incredible initiative to organize the festival under such an extraordinary setting. 'It is a great honor for me to be with Turkish readers. Maya Jaggi introduced Lebanese-French writer Maalouf as the writer who bridges the Arab-Muslim world with Europe and stated that the interview would focus on Maalouf last two books, Les désorientés (The Disoriented) and Le Naufrage des civilisations (The Wreck of Civilizations).įamous in Turkey with his books Samarcande (Samarkand), Le Naufrage des civilisations (The Wreck of Civilizations), Les Échelles du Levant (Ports of Call), Les Croisades vues par les Arabes (The Crusades Through Arab Eyes), and Les Identités meurtrières (In the Name of Identity: Violence and the Need to Belong), Amin Maalouf expressed his satisfaction for attending the festival. Nermin Mollaoğlu of the Kalem Culture Foundation, one of the sponsors of the program, delivered a keynote speech at the beginning of the event. Although the interview was held in English, the readers were able to watch it with the Turkish language option of Zoom as translator Züleyha Yılmaz provided its simultaneous translation.Īttending the opening event of the festival, organized in partnership with the Turkey Europe Foundation and the Kalem Culture Association, the acclaimed 71-year-old writer talked about himself and his works.

With this event, the İTEF became one of the few literature festivals offering simultaneous translation. At the festival's opening event, aired live on Monday, June 15 from Zoom, Instagram and YouTube, and moderated by writer and journalist Maya Jaggi, Maalouf addressed his fans. The Istanbul International Literature Festival has brought together the world's leading author Amin Maalouf with Turkish his readers in an online event.Īmin Maalouf, the Lebanese writer whose books have translated into more than 40 books, has attended the opening of the Istanbul International Literature Festival (İTEF), held online this year.

Amin maalouf samarkand roman