Draft:Giuma Omar Bukleb
Giuma Bukleb | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | December 26, 1952 |
| Education | Reading University, Political Science and International Relations |
| Occupation(s) | Short story writer, Novelist, Journalist |
| Notable work |
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Giuma Omar Bukleb (Arabic: جمعة عمر بوكليب Jum'ah Omar Boukleb, born December 26, 1952, in Tripoli) is a Libyan writer. He is part of the generation of Libyan writers who began writing in the mid-1970s, with numerous publications in short stories, novels, journalism, and translations. His works are characterized by self-reflective realism.[1] His most notable work is Tales from the English Land.[2][3][4] He writes for several Arabic newspapers, including Al-Quds Al-Arabi and Al-Sharq Al-Awsat.[5]
Biography
[edit]Giuma Bukleb was born in Tripoli in 1952, where he completed his primary and secondary education. He graduated from the Teacher's Training Institute in 1970 and worked as a primary school teacher in Libya. In 1973, he earned his high school diploma and enrolled in the English Department at the University of Tripoli.
His writing career started in the mid-1970s when he published short stories in the Libyan newspaper Al-Fajr Al-Jadeed and in the weekly cultural and literary supplement. In April 1976, he was arrested during clashes between Libyan university students and members of Colonel Muammar Gaddafi's Revolutionary Committees during the April 7 Events or the Students' Revolution. After his expulsion from the university and a ban on continuing his studies, he continued writing and publishing in Libyan newspapers.[6]
In late 1978, Bukleb was arrested again with other writers and journalists, accused of working in a secret communist group. They were sentenced to death by a revolutionary court, though the sentence was later commuted to life imprisonment.[7][8] He was released in March 1988 along with other political prisoners.[9]
In late 1988, Bukleb migrated to the United Kingdom, where he has lived ever since. He earned a bachelor's degree in Political Science and International Relations from Reading University in 1993.[10]
Writing Style
[edit]Giuma Bukleb's style blends journalistic writing with self-reflective short stories. His works have been published in Al-Quds Al-Arabi under the title Tales from the English Land, which was later collected into a book of the same name in 2008. His second short story collection, Lines in the Notebook of Absence, was published in 2013.[11] In 2021, he published his first novel, London Days. Bukleb has written for several Arabic newspapers, including Al-Sharq Al-Awsat, Al-Wasat, and Al-Sabah. His journalistic articles were collected in a book titled The Hand of History (2021). He has also contributed to the field of translation, including the translation of A Cure for Serpents, the memoir of Alberto Denti di Pirajno, the last Italian governor of Libya, published in 2015.
Career
[edit]Giuma Bukleb worked as a Media Attaché at the Libyan Embassy in the UK under the Libyan Ministry of Foreign Affairs until his retirement in 2018. He currently resides in London.
Major Works
[edit]- Tales from the English Land – Short stories (2008)
- Lines in the Notebook of Absence – Short stories (2013)
- London Days – Novel (2021)
- The Hand of History – Articles (2021)
- A Cure for Serpents – Translation (2015)
References
[edit]- ^ Interview with Giuma Bukleb (in Arabic).
- ^ Al-Quds Al-Arabi Review of Giuma Bukleb's book Tales from the English Land (in Arabic).
- ^ Critical Review of Giuma Bukleb's book Tales from the English Land (in Arabic).
- ^ Author Mansour Bushanf reviews Giuma Bukleb's book Tales from the English Land (in Arabic).
- ^ Giuma Bukleb Weekly articles (in Arabic).
- ^ Interview with Giuma Bukleb on Egyptian TV. (in Arabic).
- ^ Libyan Herald Newspaper reviews Giuma Bukleb's account on daily life in prison.
- ^ Banipal Magazine: Giuma Bukleb's account on daily life in prison.
- ^ Interview with Giuma Bukleb on Libya Al-harar TV. (in Arabic).
- ^ Interview with Giuma Bukleb with Wasat TV. (in Arabic).
- ^ Interview with Damiri Podcast. (in Arabic).
External links
[edit]- Al-Sharq Al-Awsat Author Profile
- Giuma Bukleb contributions in English in Banipal Magazine [1]
- Giuma Bukleb contribution in English in Al Majalla magazine [2].