NEW YORK, Nov 19: The US National Book Foundation will hold a ceremony tomorrow, Wednesday, in New York City to announce the winners of the 75th National Book Award. Among the finalists is Kuwaiti novelist Buthaina Al-Essa, competing in the translated literature category.

Al-Essa’s novel, Guardian of the Roof of the World, was originally published in 2019 by Arab Scientific Publishers and later translated and published by the American publishing house Restraints Books. The novel delves into profound themes surrounding intellectual freedom, the impact of oppression on human identity, and blends elements of philosophical literature with science fiction.

The Kuwaiti author is competing against notable writers, including Swedish novelist Linnea Axelson for her novel The Earth, Congolese novelist Veston Mojila for The Evil Dance, Taiwanese novelist Yang Shuangzi for Travel Memoirs to Taiwan, and Syrian novelist Samar Yazbek for Maqam Al-Reeh.

The National Book Award, one of the most prestigious literary honors in the United States, has been awarded annually since 1950. It recognizes excellence in several categories, including fiction, non-fiction, poetry, translated literature, and young people’s literature, aiming to celebrate literary creativity and support authors.