Stories from the Middle East

The latest in Comma's city-story projects, Madinah offers a set of diverse, often contradictory visions of the Middle East, spanning five languages and ten cities from around the region. These stories have been specially commissioned and translated for the window they open onto contemporary Middle Eastern life. Tonight's stories will be read in Arabic and English, accompanied by simultaneous translations and discussion. Joumana Haddad is a poet, journalist and editor. Her collections include The Time of a Dream, (1995), Invitation to a Secret Dinner (1998), Abyss (2000) and The Return of Lilith (2004). Hassan Blasim is a poet and filmmaker as well as short story writer, whose films include Dead Editions. Yousef Al-Mohaimeed’s novels include Al-Qaroura (‘The Bottle’), Wolves of the Crescent Moon and The Dolphin's Excursion - all of them are widely published in the Arab world but banned in his own country.

More information on www.commapress.co.uk

* Joint tickets for the Lecture and Medina book launch, including complimentary interval refreshments, can be purchased at the special price of £7 / £4 concessions.