{{Short description|Saudi Arabian writer}} {{BLP sources|date=March 2010}} {{Infobox writer <!-- for more information see :Template:Infobox writer/doc --> |name=Abdo Khal |birth_date=1962 |birth_place=Saudi Arabia |occupation=Novelist Journalist |notableworks=Throwing Sparks |awards=International Prize for Arabic Fiction (2010) }} '''Abdo Khal''' (born 3, August 1962, Al-Mijannah, Jizan, Saudi Arabia) is an Arab writer and winner of the 2010 International Prize for Arabic Fiction.
==Biography== He left his home village at a young age and currently lives in Jeddah. Before becoming a writer, Khal has been working as a journalist since 1982. His works, written in a distinctive style that blends Qur'anic Arabic with dialectal (specifically Hijazi) Arabic, have made him known within and beyond the Arab world.<ref>[http://www.eaifl.com/abdokhal Abdo Khal at the Emirates Airline Festival of Literature] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100117143504/http://www.eaifl.com/abdokhal |date=January 17, 2010 }} </ref> Khal studied political science before becoming a novelist and his works criticize the corruption of the very wealthy in the Arab world. They are unavailable in his home country. According to himself, this is because they "address the sacrosanct trio of taboos in the Arab world: sex, politics, and religion".<ref>[http://www.saudiwave.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=6227:saudi-arabian-writer-abdo-khal-wins-international-prize-for-arabic-fiction&catid=130:entertainment&Itemid=233 Saudi Arabian writer Abdo Khal wins International prize for Arabic fiction]{{dead link|date=February 2025|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref> Due to Khal winning the International Prize for Arabic Fiction, his works are expected to soon be translated into various languages and become more known outside the Arabic-speaking world.<ref>[http://edition.cnn.com/2010/WORLD/meast/03/04/booker.khal.saudi/index.html CNN.com: 'Terrifying' Saudi novel wins Arabic Booker]</ref> Indeed, some of Khal's work have been translated and published in English, German and French.
== Work == Khal works as the Editor-in-chef and a daily columnist of Ukaz newspaper.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.arabicfiction.org/en/Abdo-Khal|title=Abdo Khal {{!}} International Prize for Arabic Fiction|website=www.arabicfiction.org|access-date=2018-12-09}}</ref> Moreover, he is member of the Board of Directors of Jeddah Literary Club.<ref name=:)>{{cite news|title=Saudi Author Abdo Khal Wins Arabic “Booker”|url=https://publishingperspectives.com/2010/03/saudi-author-abdo-khal-wins-arabic-booker/|work=Publishing Perspectives}}</ref>
In 2010, Khal won the International Prize for Arabic Fiction for his novel ''Spewing Sparks as Big as Castles'', which is also known as ''She Throws Sparks''. It was published by Al-Jamal Publications.<ref name=:)/>
==Bibliography== * ''Cities Eating Grass'' * ''Immorality'' * ''The Mud'' * ''Death Passes from Here'' * ''Days Don't Hide Anyone'' * ''Barking'' * ''She Throws Sparks''
== References == {{Reflist}}
== External links == * [http://edition.cnn.com/2010/WORLD/meast/03/04/booker.khal.saudi/index.html CNN.com: 'Terrifying' Saudi novel wins Arabic Booker] * [https://web.archive.org/web/20100117143504/http://www.eaifl.com/abdokhal Abdo Khal at the Emirates Airline Festival of Literature] * [https://en.qantara.de/content/interview-with-the-saudi-arabian-writer-abdo-khal-the-discovery-of-arabic-literature-in-the Interview with the Saudi Arabian Writer Abdo Khal: The Discovery of Arabic Literature in the Gulf]
{{Gulf Arab literature}} {{International Prize for Arabic Fiction |state=expanded}} {{authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Khal, Abdo}} Category:Living people Category:1962 births Category:Saudi Arabian novelists Category:International Prize for Arabic Fiction winners
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