Shady Lewis
Shady Lewis | |
|---|---|
| شادي لويس | |
 | |
| Born | Shady Lewis Boutros 1978 Cairo, Egypt |
| Writing career | |
| Language | Arabic |
| Period | 2018–present |
Shady Lewis Boutros (Arabic: شادي لويس بطرس; born 1978) is an Egyptian novelist and journalist. He has written three novels, including On the Greenwich Line, published in Arabic in 2020. The English translation, by Katherine Halls, was published in 2025, and was shortlisted for the EBRD Literature Prize and the Banipal Prize for Arabic Literary Translation. It won the James Tait Black Memorial Prize in 2026.
Life
Lewis was born in Cairo in 1978. He is of Coptic Christian origin. He has lived in London since 2006.[1][2][3]
Career
Lewis's first novel, Ways of the Lord (Turuq Al Rab, 2018), focused on a Christian man living in Egypt.[4][5][6]
His second novel, On the Greenwich Line (Ala Khat Greenwich), was published in 2020.[4] The English translation by Katharine Halls was published by Peirene Press. It won the James Tait Black Prize for fiction in 2026.[7][8][9] It is only the third book in translation to win this award.[10] It was also longlisted for the Queen Mary Small Press Fiction Prize[11] and shortlisted for the EBRD Literature Prize.[12] Katherine Halls was shortlisted for the Banipal Prize for Arabic Literary Translation for her English translation of the novel.[13] The French translation by Sophie Pommier and May Rostom was nominated for the 2023 Prix de la littérature arabe.[14]
His third novel, A Brief History of Creation and East Cairo (Tarikh Mugaz Lilkhaliqah wa Sharq Al Qahira), was published in 2021.[4] The French translation by Sophie Pommier and May Rostom was shortlisted for the Prix de la littérature arabe 2025.[15]
Lewis has also published a travel diary.
References
- ↑ "On the Greenwich Line". Peirene Press. Retrieved 2025-07-22.
- ↑ "Shady Lewis". Promoting Arabic Literature in Europe. 2023-04-03. Retrieved 2025-07-22.
- ↑ "Conversation: Shady Lewis (author) , Katharine Halls (translator) and Keiran Goddard (Host)". Burley Fisher Books. Retrieved 2025-07-22.
- 1 2 3 "Egyptian Novelist Shady Lewis on Coptic Identity, Church-State Relations, and Citizenship". Arablit & Arablit Quarterly. 7 December 2021. Retrieved 13 April 2026.
- ↑ Mechai, Hassina (2023-05-02). "'Modern day heroes are risking their lives to cross seas in search of safety'". Middle East Monitor. Retrieved 2025-07-22.
- ↑ Hendawi, Hamza (2018-12-14). "Novel explores Christians under controling church". AP News. p. 6. Retrieved 2025-07-22 – via Newspapers.com.
- ↑ "Tales of identity and uprising win book awards". The University of Edinburgh. 28 May 2026. Retrieved 29 May 2026.
- ↑ "UK's oldest literary prize awarded in defiance of university marking boycott". Edinburgh News. 28 May 2026. Retrieved 29 May 2026.
- ↑ "James Tait Black Prize 2026 shortlists announced". Books+Publishing. 2026-03-23. Retrieved 2026-03-27.
- ↑ "James Tait Black Memorial Prize 2026 Winners Announced". Writing Africa. 29 May 2026. Retrieved 29 May 2026.
- ↑ "The Queen Mary Small Press Fiction Prize 2026 Longlist". Republic of Consciousness. Retrieved 13 April 2026.
- ↑ "EBRD Literature Prize 2026 shortlist announced". EBRD. 1 April 2026. Retrieved 13 April 2026.
- ↑ "Marilyn Booth Wins 2025 Banipal Prize". Arablit & Arablit Quarterly. 7 January 2026. Retrieved 13 April 2026.
- ↑ "Les huit titres en lice pour le prix de la littérature arabe 2023". LivresHebdo (in French). 18 October 2023. Retrieved 13 April 2026.
- ↑ "Prix de la littérature arabe 2025: Eight Finalists Announced". The New Publishing Standard. 19 July 2025. Retrieved 13 April 2026.