The English Pen Online World Atlas

Nasr Jamil Shaath

Monday, 02 February 2009

Biography:

Nasr was born in 1979 in the city of Khan Younis, South Gaza Strip, Palestine. He holds a B.A in Economics and Political Science. He is also a member of the Palestinian Union of Writers.

Nasr’s first selection of poetry appeared in “Aqwas” magazine, and in “Kharij Seyaq al-Nahr," (Outside the Context of the River) published by the Palestinian House of Poetry. He published several studies in the literary magazine “al-Shuaraa”, also by the Palestinian House of Poetry. His first complete collection of poetry “Shahwat al-Esphalt” (The Desire of the Asphalt) was published by Ogarit Cultural Center in Palestine in Ramallah. His second collection “le-ana quba’ al-turab dukhan” (Because the Sand’s Hat is Smoke) was published by Dar Meem in Algeria during the event Algeria- The Arab Cultural Capital, 2007.

Nasr won the Institute of Abed Elmohsen al-Qattan Award for Young Authors in 2006 for his collection “Khalauo al-Layl min al-Shajara” (They Uprooted the Night from the Tree).

His poems were translated into Hebrew, French, Danish and English.

In addition to poetry, Nasr writes criticism, and his first critical work is titled “Poetry, the Self and Deconstruction”. His critical studies and articles on Palestinian and Arabic literature are forthcoming in two books. He is also an active member and contributor in the promotion of the new generation of Palestinian poetry and poets. He edited a special section on young Palestinian poets for the 2007 edition of “Majalat al-Haraka al-She’ariya”, which appears in Mexico City under the supervision of the Lebanese poet Qaseer Afif. He presented his critical work in numerous conferences and workshops organized by the Palestinian Ministry of Culture and other literary circles. He attended as well several poetry readings throughout the Arab world.

A selection of his poetry was anthologized together with the works of other Palestinian and Jordanians poets whose work was selected for the project “A Book in a Newspaper”, published by the UNESCO. The anthology, in Vol. 114, includes a collection of Arabic poetry from the last quarter of the 20th century. It was published in February, 6th, 2008.

Nasr’s essays on criticism and culture appear regularly in local Palestinian newspapers, including “al-Ayam” and “aL-Hayaa al-Jadida”, as well as other international Arab newspapers, such as “al-Safeer”, “al-Akhbar”, and “al-Ghawoon”, “al-Hayat”, “al-Quds al-Arabi”, “al-Zamman”, the electronic “Elaph” and many other Arab literary magazines.

Nasr is considered one of the most prominent poetry and critical voices that emerged in Palestine after 2000, and his strong presence is recognized among Palestinians and Arabs alike.