Saudi Literature

Saudi Literature consists of literary texts written in the Arabic language by Saudi writers or poets. It is divided into two main types: poetry and prose. It is also an extension of the literature of the Arabian Peninsula, which dates back to the eras before the advent of Islam, i.e. before the year 610, and is historically known as the era of pre-Islamic literature.

Poetry in Saudi literature is divided into two types: classical poetry and Nabati poetry which is inspired by local dialects and is popular among popular circles. The word "diwan" refers to a collection of poetry. The diwan entitled "Spring Dreams" by Taher Zamakhshari is the first collection of poetry in the history of Saudi literature.

Poetry, both Nabati and classical, is prevalent in Saudi literature. It prevails over novel and prose works and enjoys wide popularity among the public, unlike literary nature in other cultures, such as Russian literature, which is dominated by storytelling and long novels.

Umm al-Qura Newspaper, with its first issue published in 1924, contributed to the activity of the Saudi literary movement at that time, specifically in prose and essay literature, through the publication of literary and cultural articles.

"Al Manhal" is the first Saudi magazine concerned with literature, culture, science, and society. It published articles and short stories, and its first issue was published in 1936. In 1949, "Rawdah," the first magazine for short literary stories targeting children, was issued.

The first novel in the history of Saudi literature was published two years before the announcement of the unification of the Kingdom, specifically in 1930. It was entitled "The Twins" by Abd al-Quddus al-Ansari. This was followed by the issuance of a number of novels, including the novel “Idea” by Ahmed al-Siba'i in 1947, "The Price of Sacrifice" in 1959, and "The Days Have Passed" in 1963 by Ḥamid Damanhuri.

Saudi theatrical literature first appeared in 1932, when writer Hussein Siraj wrote a play entitled "The Oppressor Himself," which was the first play in the history of Saudi literature. Acting on stage also saw the light of day in 1973 with the play "Tabib Bil Mishaab." Theatrical literature is less common in the Kingdom than in other genres.

Travel literature appeared and persisted since the inception of Saudi literature. It included several literary productions, most notably: "Memories of Paris" in 1980 by Abdul Karim al-Juhayman, "A Month in Damascus" in 1955 by Abdullah Bin Khamis, in addition to "Travels in Central America in 1985 by Mohammed al-Aboudi, who wrote about 125 books in travel literature.

Saudi literary clubs first appeared in 1975, when six clubs were established in Riyadh, Jeddah, Taif, Makkah al-Mukarramah, al-Madinah al-Munawwarah, and Jazan. Subsequently, their numbers increased to sixteen clubs in various cities and governorates of the Kingdom. These clubs seek to spread literary and cultural production, and build bridges of cultural communication between writers, in addition to supporting and attracting young Saudi talents.

Saudi literature has been enriched by a number of prominent authors and writers of prose and theater, including: Ahmed al-Siba'i, Hussein Arab, Mohamed Johary, Hamza Bogary, Ahmad Attar, Ghazi al-Gosaibi, Muhammad Abduh Yamani, Mlhat Abdullah, Laila al-Juhani, and Hamid Damanhuri.

A number of poets have excelled in Saudi literature, including: Mohammed al-Sabban, Ahmed Qandil, Prince Abdullah al-Faisal, Hamad al-Hajji, Prince Khalid al-Faisal, Khalaf Bin Hazal, Muhammad Thubayti, Thuraya Qabel, Prince Badr Bin Abdul Mohsen, and Prince Abdulrahman Bin Musa'id. Dr. Ghazi al-Gosaibi, as another example, has written both poetry and prose.

Many Saudi literary works have been translated into several languages, such as English, Chinese, and others, including the following novels: "The Price of Sacrifice,” “A Hole in the Night's Gown,” and “Sweat and Mud.”

Annual book fairs are organized in the Kingdom, including the Riyadh and Jeddah International Fairs. These fairs attract writers and publishing houses to showcase their literary and cultural publications. Moreover, literary competitions and awards specializing in poetry and public speaking are held in the Kingdom, including poetry and public speaking competitions in Souq Okaz, as well as the Prince Abdullah al-Faisal International Award for Arabic Poetry, and the King Abdul Aziz Award for Popular Literature.

The Kingdom documented the literary movement in the Kingdom, including the issuance of the “Dictionary of Literature and Writers in the Kingdom” by King Abdulaziz Foundation for Research and Archives, which is a huge encyclopedia with about 1,900 pages. It also includes documentation and history of the literary scene. Moreover, the encyclopedia provides literary criticism of some texts and poems.