Hoda Barakat Receives Sheikh Zayed Book Award

Hoda Barakat, a visiting professor in the Middle Eastern Studies Program and a Montgomery Fellow, won the Sheikh Zayed Book Award in the literature category for her novel Hind or the Most Beautiful Woman in the World.

The Sheikh Zayed Book Award honors accomplishments in research, writing, and translation and encourages the promotion of dialogue and knowledge exchange among nations. The award is organized by the Abu Dhabi Arabic Language Centre, which fosters the advancement of the Arabic language in academic, cultural, and public life. Barakat will receive the award at a ceremony during the 34th Abu Dhabi International Book Fair on April 28.

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Professor Hoda Barakat and her students during the 2023 spring term. (Photo courtesy of Tarek El-Ariss)

Published by Dar Aladab in 2024, Barakat's novel tells the story of a female protagonist who suffers from acromegaly, a disorder that occurs when the body makes too much growth hormone, which can lead to enlarged body parts.

"With a reflective narrative voice, [the novel] investigates the life of people who live on the margins of society," the award citation reads. "Barakat examines the psychological and physical challenges these individuals face, exploring beauty standards in various cultures through complex characters and a rich, analytical, and human-centric voice."

"Barakat's students and colleagues at Dartmouth are thrilled that she received this well-deserved award. We're happy for her and look forward to welcoming her on campus soon," says Tarek El-Ariss, chair of the Middle Eastern Studies Program.

Barakat has taught at Dartmouth since 2021. An acclaimed Lebanese novelist whose books have been translated from Arabic into nearly 20 languages, her previous honors include the 2019 International Prize for Arabic Fiction for her novel The Night Mail, the Ordre du Mérite from the French Presidency, and Chevalier des Arts et des Lettres from the French Ministry of Culture.