The Department of Middle Eastern Studies cordially invites you to a lecture by Syrian writer and literary critic Nabil Suleiman. The lecture, titled “Syrian Mirrors: 55 Years of Novel Writing in the Syrian and Arab Context”, will take place on Wednesday 14 May 2025 at 17:30 at Celetná 13, Prague 1, room 1.08.

The lecture will be held in Arabic.

Nabil Suleiman’s lecture will focus on his personal approach to novel writing, which is based on the search for authentic methods and models for creating fictional worlds. He is the author of twenty-three novels that explore the history and present of Syria within both a national and pan-Arab context, with many of his works resembling epics. Through his fiction, he bears witness to how historical events deeply affect the lives of contemporary Syrian society and influence the thinking, behavior, and decisions of the people of this Arab country. In this regard, Nabil Suleiman holds a prominent place not only among Syrian writers but also among authors from across the Arab world.

Nabil Suleiman (b. 1945) comes from Latakia, Syria. In 1967, he graduated from the Faculty of Arts at Damascus University with a degree in Arabic language and literature. Until 1979, he worked in education, and since the 1980s he has devoted himself fully to literary work. In 1982, he founded the publishing house Dar al-Hiwar, which continues to operate successfully in Syria and the United Arab Emirates. He is the author of 23 novels, some of which have been translated into several languages, including English, Spanish, and Russian. His literary work has been the subject of several notable critical studies, such as The Novel and History by Muhammad Jamal Barout and On the Arab Epic Novel by Muhsin Yusuf. Nabil Suleiman has received numerous Arab literary awards. He gives lectures on his literary work and civic engagement at foreign universities and various international forums.