English rights Thirsty River (Rodaan Al Galidi) sold

(Portrait of Rodaan Al Galidi, who had a great week: a nomination for a major literature prize, a rights deal and the publication of The last slave, a new collection of his poems.)

English rights for Rodaan Al Galidi's epic novel Thirsty River are sold to Aflame books, a new English publisher of world literature. This English edition will also be distributed in the US, Canada and South-Africa.

Earlier this week Thirsty River was nominated for the BNG Nieuwe Literatuurprijs.

Thirsty River is an amazing family epic. Al Galidi takes us to the heart of Iraq. The dreams, desires, traditions and experiences of a colourful Iraqi family are shaken up when Saddam comes to power. In Thirsty River Al Galidi follows the fate of this family untill after the death of the dictator.

Coming from Iraq, writer, poet and columnist Rodaan Al Galidi has lived in the Netherlands since 1998. His much-praised poetry collection The fall of Zorro was shortlisted for the prestigious VSB poetry award. And his new collection of poetry, The last slave, is even better. So, watch out for Rodaan Al Galidi.