Rasha Abbas
Rasha Abbas | |
|---|---|
| Born | 1984 Latakia, Syria |
| Occupation(s) | Author, journalist |
| Years active | 2000s–present |
| Known for | The Invention of German Grammar |
Rasha Abbas (, born in 1984 in Latakia, Syria) is a Syrian author and journalist recognized for her Arabic short story collection The Invention of German Grammar, which explores her experiences as a refugee in Germany. She was honored with the young writers' award during the 2008 Arab Capital of Culture celebrations.
Life and career
Born in Latakia and raised in Damascus, Abbas began her studies in journalism at Damascus University in 2002. While serving as an editor for Syrian state television, she released Adam hates TV, a work that earned her the young writers' prize at the 2008 Arab Capital of Culture.
Amid the Syrian civil war, Abbas took part in protests opposing the government, which eventually led to her exile in Lebanon. In 2014, she was awarded a Jean-Jacques Rousseau fellowship, granting her a residency at the Akademie Schloss Solitude in Stuttgart, Germany. During this period, she published her second collection of short stories, The Invention of German Grammar, which fictionalizes her journey as a refugee and her process of learning German. Notably, the German edition was released before the original Arabic version, which was subsequently published by the Lebanese branch of the Heinrich Böll Foundation, adapted for Arabic-speaking audiences.
In 2017, Abbas took part in the Shubbak Literature Festival held at the British Library in London, where she presented The King of Cups. This work draws on her investigation into the cultural and political ramifications of the United Arab Republic formed by Syria and Egypt. Her story “You can call me Velvet”, translated by Katharine Halls, was shortlisted for the 2021 ArabLit Story Prize.
Following her residency in Stuttgart, Abbas secured asylum status in Germany and currently lives in Schöneberg, Berlin.
Articles and stories
Books
External links
- Six Proposals for Participation in a Conversation about Bread, nonfiction piece by Rasha Abbas, translated by Alice Guthrie