'Novels translated in English work better than media'

Sharjah - Writer John McCarthy said he always felt drawn to the mystique of the Middle East.

The Sharjah International book Fair (SIBF) is very impressive, at it shows the great publishing industry in Arab world and it plays a great role in promoting libraries, said John McCarthy, a British journalist, writer and broadcaster, and one of the hostages in the Lebanon hostage crisis.
McCarthy's life dramatically changed in 1986 when he was kidnapped on his first foreign assignment in Lebanon and held hostage for 1,943 days.
Speaking to Khaleej Times on the sidelines of SIBF, he said that there are great writers in the Arab world but they need to translate their works into English and other western languages for the West to learn about the culture, lifestyle, suffering from wars and other issues.
"For example, if an Arab novelist writes a story with strong characters that reflects the suffering of Syrian refugees and translates it to English, then this will help a great deal in spreading the true culture, and will help reflect the political and humanitarian situation of these countries among Western readers," he said. Novels translated in English will work better than media, he added.
"I'm trying to translate my book You Can't Hide The Sun which is based on my experiences of the Middle East in Arabic language for Arab readers. The book details my travels through Israel to uncover the hidden story of the Palestinian struggle."
Having grown up listening to his father's tales about Palestine, McCarthy said he always felt drawn to the mystique of the Middle East. His first-hand experience of its brutal conflicts, him being kidnapped and held hostage in Lebanon for five years, only strengthened his determination to return and explore its myriad complexities.
In the years since his ordeal, he travelled through Israel and East Jerusalem, from the shores of the Mediterranean to the Bedouin encampments of the Negev desert. His intensely moving encounters with the inhabitants of this beautiful but tormented region reveal the continuing tragedy of the Palestinians who remained in Israel after its formation in 1948 - and who still dare to think of it as home.
Panel discussion at the fair
McCarthy took part in a panel discussion called, "Bets: Writing and Facing the Current Situation" with UAE writer and poet Habib Al Sayegh, and Pakistani author Moni Mohsin, who is based in London.
The session looked at how writing and creativity help communities overcome the negative impact of conflict and acts of aggression because creative writing and literature shape our view of the world.
The panel agreed that both creative writing and literature were very important in raising awareness and tolerance of others and agreed that literature and non-fiction help in furthering our understanding of some of the most destructive and hostile concepts and regimes.
afkarali@khaleejtimes.com

• Sharjah International Book Fair