Leila Aboulela’s “Lyrics Alley” Long-Listed for the 2011 Orange Prize for Fiction

Photo: Vaida V. Nairn

One World Cafe guest Leila Aboulela has been long-listed for the 2011 Orange Prize for Fiction in recognition of her latest novel Lyrics Alley (Grove Press 2010). The announcement was made earlier today by the organisers of the Orange Prize, which has the distinction of being the UK’s only annual award for fiction written by a woman. Although the Orange Prize is UK-based, this year the long-listed writers hail from all corners of the globe—their common writing language is, however, English.

Lyrics Alley is Leila’s third novel and represents something of a departure from her previous works since the leading narrative voice is a male voice. Leila wanted to experiment with a male lead and tune into the male psyche for the first time. Personal memories of family experiences in 1950s colonial Sudan, however, strongly influence the story itself, which centres on the experiences of an uncle who began writing lyrics after a debilitating accident. Leila’s smooth, lyrical prose lures us into a world of dynastic politics and conflict between modernising influences and the call of a more traditional past.

Leila now lives in Qatar. She is modest about her achievements, but keen to maintain the high standard she set with her early work, in particular,”The Museum”, a short story which received the Caine Prize for African Writing in 2000. With today´s nomination for the Orange Prize for Fiction, Leila Aboulela appears to be doing just that.

The shortlist will be announced on April 12 and the winner unveiled at a ceremony on June 8.

For more information about the Orange Prize, visit their website, http://www.orangeprize.co.uk/prize.html

—Claire Hart

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