As part of the activities of the 32nd edition of the Abu Dhabi International Book Fair, the Abu Dhabi Arabic Language Centre, part of the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi (DCT), launched its new publication "One Hundred and One Novels: Arab Novels that Enriched the 20th Century" during a session titled “One Hundred and One Novels: The Treasures of Arabic Narrative”.

The session was attended by a constellation of writers, critics, and specialists in the Arabic language and its literary arts. It witnessed a rich dialogue about the new book and its cultural dimensions, as well as its importance in shaping the literary taste of Arab readers, specifically the emerging generation, through a selected collection of the most creative novels in Arab literature.

The session hosted a distinguished panel of speakers, including Dr. Chokri Al Mabkhout, University Professor at Zayed University, Dr. Muhsin Al-Musawi, Professor of Classical and Modern Arabic Literature at Columbia University - New York, Dr. Khalil Sheikh, Director of the Arabic Language Education and Research Department at ALC, and Dr. Mohamed Abu Al-Fadl Badran, Academic, Poet and Literary Critic. Together, they shed light on the importance of this book and its literary and cultural impact derived from the depth of the selected novels and their influence on the culture of Arab society through the creative variations in literary styles and themes.

This book is a result of the efforts of ALC in supporting the Arabic language and its readers and is a continuation of its project "One Hundred and One Books: Arab Books that Impacted the World", launched during the 31st edition of the Abu Dhabi International Book Fair. A publication that grants readers the opportunity to discover creative treasures of the Arabic language and its literature throughout the ages.

On the book, Dr. Khalil Al-Sheikh commented: “This is an exceptional addition to the Arabic library due to its immense literary value and the diversity it presents in the creative presentation of the selected novels' themes. This diversity undoubtedly takes the Arab reader on a cultural journey that sharpens their taste and shapes their cultural identity.”

He further explained the journey of the book from its inception to its release, saying: “14 critics participated in the creation of this book. Each of them initially proposed 75 novels that they considered the best in terms of subject matter and cultural and societal impact. These novels were then reviewed, and foundations were laid to select 101 novels that the specialised committee deemed representative of contemporary Arab culture. Each of the critics then wrote an analysis or translation for each selected novel, which was carefully reviewed, organised, and placed in chronological order before its release”.

The Abu Dhabi Arabic Language Centre continues to work on new publications as part of the "One Hundred and One Books" project, currently working on the third edition titled “One Hundred and One Innovators” in collaboration with a specialised research team, set to be launched during the 33rd edition of the Abu Dhabi International Book Fair.