Arabic Edition Of 'Destruction' By Stanislav Biler Now Published By ALC

The Abu Dhabi Arabic Language Centre (ALC), through its Kalima Project for Translation, has released the Arabic version of the novel "Destruction" (Destrukce) by Czech author Stanislav Biler. The translation was done by Dr. Amr Shatory, an Egyptian translator and professor of Czech at Ain Shams University in Cairo. This novel won the Magnesia Litera award in 2022, which is given annually to exceptional literary works by the Czech literary association.

Set in a remote village in the Czech countryside, the novel delves into the relationship between a teacher and the village. It explores social and family dynamics, highlighting how industrialisation and technological advancements have impacted rural communities. The protagonist's role as a teacher is questioned within this context.

Upon his arrival, every action of the teacher was scrutinised, leading to a loss of self-confidence and causing confusion. This chaos is mirrored in the novel’s structure, with chapters presented out of order.

The narrative follows the teacher who moves to the countryside seeking peace but instead finds destruction. The natural beauty of the area has been ruined by industrial activities; wells have dried up, forests have withered, and crops have died due to a factory's presence.

The villagers are aware of their predicament but fear losing their jobs and benefits from the factory. This leads them to speak in confusing terms and offer weak justifications for their situation. Characters often repeat meaningless phrases like malfunctioning robots.

Author's Background

Stanislav Biler, born in 1982 in the Czech Republic, is also a journalist and sociologist. He studied sociology, international relations, and European studies at Masaryk University in Brno. His writings have appeared in various media outlets, and he has worked as a scriptwriter for Czech television.

Biler co-founded Long Live Brno, a satirical movement, and contributed to "This Is Brno," a topographic guide to Brno. His other works include his first novel "The Best Candidate" (2017) and "111 Places to Visit in Brno" (2020). In 2023, he received the OSF Journalism Award for best journalistic article of 2022.

Translator's Credentials

The book’s translator, Dr. Amr Ahmed Shatory, heads the Czech Language Department at Ain Shams University in Cairo. He is also a professor of Czech language there.

Biler believes that the characters' irrational behaviour stems from a crisis of rationality and meaning in life itself. The novel questions whether modernisation has brought more harm than good to traditional ways of life.

This Arabic edition aims to bring Biler’s thought-provoking work to a wider audience, offering insights into both personal struggles and broader societal issues.

With inputs from WAM