Reem Bassiouney

Reem Bassiouney is an Egyptian novelist and professor of Applied Linguistics. She is known for her novels that explore the cultural and social issues of Egypt. Bassiouney won the King Fahd Prize for Translation in 2009 for The Pistachio Seller and the Sawiris Foundation Award for Young Novelists in 2010.

Born in Cairo, Bassiouney completed her MPhil and doctorate in Arabic linguistics at the University of Oxford in 2002. She has taught Arabic language and linguistics at prestigious universities in the UK and the US, including Cambridge, Oxford, and Utah. Currently, she serves as the Chair of the Department of Applied Linguistics and is the series editor for Routledge Studies in Language and Identity.

Her academic works are widely recognized. These include Functions of Code-switching in Egypt (2006), Arabic Sociolinguistics (2008), and Arabic and the Media (2010). Her research interests cover sociolinguistics, language and identity, language policy, discourse analysis, and language and mass media.

Bassiouney has also published numerous articles on topics such as code-switching, language and gender, leveling, register, Arabic and advertisements, linguistics and literature, and language policies in the Arab world.

In addition to her academic career, Bassiouney is an accomplished novelist. Her works often explore the complexities of Egyptian society and culture. Her debut novel, The Pistachio Seller, received the King Fahd Prize for Translation in 2009. This novel, along with her other works, showcases her talent for weaving intricate narratives that reflect the rich cultural heritage of Egypt.

In 2024, her novel Fountain of the Drowning was translated into English. Set in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, it captures a period of significant transformation in Egypt. The novel depicts dramatic events such as the construction of the Suez Canal and the British occupation, which brought about rapid modernization and Europeanization of social norms. The story’s multi-layered narrative reflects the profound impact of these changes on Egyptian society.

As Bassiouney once said, "My writing is a reflection of my identity and the stories of my people. Through literature, I aim to bridge cultural divides and bring the essence of Egypt to a global audience."

Photo credit: American University in Cairo