Translating Libya

Part anthology and part travelogue, Translating Libya presents the country through the eyes of sixteen short story writers and one American diplomat. Intrigued by the apparent absence of ‘place’ in modern Libyan short fiction, Ethan Chorin resolved to track down and translate stories that specifically mention cities and landmarks in Libya. The stories trace the influence of the ancient Romans, the later Italian occupation and the influx of foreign workers from Africa and further afield. The authors open a window on Libya pre-revolution – a rapidly urbanizing country with rich oil reserves, renewed diplomatic relations with the West and a nascent tourist industry based on its well-preserved ancient cities. This is a unique introduction to a country that was for some time been ‘off the beaten path’.