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Kalima, the translation project of the Abu Dhabi Authority for Culture and Heritage, published the Arabic translation of award-winning Nadine Gordimer’s "The Pickup." The South African writer, winner of the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1991, deals with the issues of immigration and identity. The novel tells the story of an illegal Arab immigrant living in South Africa, who falls in love with, and marries a South African girl. He finds in her, the solution to his illegal status in the country. The female character, through this union, is able to challenge her privileged existence, which emerged in South Africa following the imposition of the apartheid regime.
After her husband’s residence visa is refused, she returns with him to his country of origin, where the lifestyle is alien to her.
The story develops as the hero begins his journey in the search for a country he can emigrate to, while this is happening his wife begins to discover herself through her husband’s Arab Muslim village and family, and finds herself inspired by the desert. As the work progresses each of the characters begins to ask questions about love, homeland, belonging and identity, resulting in an unexpected conclusion.
Gordimer was born in 1923 near Springs-Gauteng outside Johannesburg. She was known for her writing which has long dealt with moral and racial issues. The author focuses particularly on the development and consequences apartheid in South Africa. She has written many novels including: "A World of Strangers" (1958), "Occasion for Loving" (1963) and the award-winning "The Conservationist" (1974).
The novel has been translated by Samer Abu Hawash. Born in Sidon to Palestinian parents in 1972, Abu Hawash is a novelist, poet and translator.
Among his translated works are : "On the Road" by Jack Kerouac, "Life of Pi" by Yann Martel, "The Buddha of Suburbia" by Hanif Kureishi, the "Tree of Smoke" by Denis Johnson and "The Book of Tea" by Kakuzo Okakura . The author has also produced his own works including "Holiday Lovers" and "Happiness." Among his poetry works are "Two Trees on the Surface", "The Gentleman’s Salute" and "Sewing a Dress to Remember."
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