What Is the First Book Translated into Arabic in Saudi Literature?

The first book translated into Arabic in Saudi literature was an Arabic adaptation of al-Zanabiq al-Homr (The Red Oleanders) play by the Indian writer Rabindranath Tagore. Ahmed Abd al-Ghafur Attar translated it into Arabic, and the book was published in 1952 by 'Dar al-Maaref' in Cairo, encompassing 261 pages.

The 'Red Oleanders' play delves into people's obsession with material possessions and fascination with gold, while the author aspires for freedom and the pursuit of life's true meaning. The play portrays the East's yearning for liberty and nature, its belief in love, and its rejection of materialism.

The translator, Ahmed Abd al-Ghafur Attar, is a renowned Saudi author, writer, and journalist who founded the Okaz newspaper in 1960. His wide range of writings encompasses science, religion, society, and literature. Also, he has edited several books.