The 31st Abu Dhabi International Book Fair (ADIBF) hosted a panel session on Wednesday (25 May) which delved into the fascinating ‘One Hundred and One Books’ project, the Abu Dhabi Arabic Language Centre (ALC) initiative that has compiled a list of the greatest Arabic language titles of all time.

The talk, titled ‘One Hundred and One Books: Arabic Books that Enriched the World’, took place at the fair’s Youth Platform. Literary critic and researcher Dr. Khalil Al Sheikh, a member of the initiative’s editorial committee, spoke about the genesis of the ‘One Hundred and One Books’ project, noting that the idea was for the ALC to present the greatest treasures of Arab knowledge to the world – with an end result of a more comprehensive world literature canon which was not limited to European and American countries, but spanned from the Far East to the Far West.

Dr. Al Sheikh said, “Initially, our idea was to include books that have impacted world culture, but we later changed it to books that have enriched other countries of the world. Therefore, each title selected is an element of enrichment for the world. After a lot of toing and froing, we proceeded with the book selection by focussing on their nature and whether they were appropriate for both specialists and youth.”

The ‘One Hundred and One Books’ publication provides a critical explanation of every title chosen, encouraging individuals to question each inclusion and inspiring further research into the works. Initially, 200 books were shortlisted, but the project’s committee was adamant about featuring only 101 books as an invitation for the readers to read more and question why specific titles were not included.

Dr. Bilal Al Orfali, Professor of the Sheikh Zayed Chair in Arabic and Islamic Studies, said, “There are numerous Arabic books that have changed elements of the world. For years, elements of Arabic culture have interacted with different cultures globally, producing literature and art. The project is a call for thinking about the art of selecting books; it activates the role of the critic and the reader at the same level.”

The 101 selected works have been compiled into a publication, which will be translated into various languages in the future. A second volume is already underway and will consist of a list of the 101 best Arabic novels of the 20th century.

ADIBF 2022, organised by the ALC, part of the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi, is ongoing at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre until 29 May.