Sawad Hussain and Nour Jaljuli share their experiences translating and contextualizing Palestinian stories for young readers in "The Necklace of Seven Souls."
Translating a Tale of Displacement
In The Necklace of Seven Souls (Yonder, September), Palestinian teens Farida Ma’rouf and Mazen Salloum navigate a centuries-old mystery against the backdrop of Paris. The YA novel, penned by Hooda Shawa and illustrated by Nada Esmaeel, intertwines contemporary narratives with diary entries from the 1940s, weaving together two families' histories of loss and displacement. This translation work, by Sawad Hussain and Nour Jaljuli, emerges at a time when Palestinian narratives are gaining renewed focus in the literary world.
The Catalyst for Collaboration
Nour Jaljuli embraced this project after being approached by Sawad Hussain, her mentor during her MA in literary translation at the University of East Anglia. Having heard of Jaljuli's interest in YA literature, Hussain introduced her to the project, and without hesitation, she accepted. According to Jaljuli, the collaborative effort involved significant back-and-forth communication to ensure the integrity of cultural geographies, blending their perspectives as they worked through the text.
Division of Labor and Editorial Dynamics
The two translators managed their workload strategically. Hussain discovered the book in 2024 and pitched it to Restless Books, where she had established connections. With their agreement to co-translate, they divided the text, allowing Jaljuli to focus on translating specific sections while Hussain edited for tone and language. Their discussions often circled around fine-tuning Farida’s voice and handling queries, which Hussain communicated directly with Shawa via WhatsApp, managing the relationship with the author throughout the process.
Navigating Cultural Nuances
Addressing multiple cultural contexts within a single narrative posed its own challenges. Jaljuli relished the learning curve that came with exploring new cultural elements. One chapter revolves around an Aleppo-specific candy, prompting her to engage with Syrian friends for accurate descriptions. While Jaljuli identifies as Palestinian, her knowledge of the land is shaped more through her family's oral histories than through personal experience. Hussain's proficiency in French also proved beneficial when delving into the intricacies of French settings within the text.
The Urgency of Palestinian Narratives
For Hussain, proximity to Palestinian literature has informed her work across several projects for years. She indicated that while interest in Palestinian authors is rising alongside ongoing crises, the primary focus should be on ensuring these stories reach readers. In her experience as a judge for the Palestine Book Awards, she noticed a persistent gap in middle grade and YA literature, reinforcing her determination to pitch more works targeted at younger audiences.
Challenges of Translation
Translating Arabic literature into English presents unique hurdles due to structural differences between the languages. Hussain pointed out that literal translations often lack the fluidity necessary for young adult readers. Her approach involves crafting an initial English translation before refining it to appeal to a YA demographic. Particularly challenging are religious terms like "inshallah" or "alhamdulillah," which carry everyday significance in Arabic but can come across as overly formal in English contexts.
Reflections on Personal Histories
Working on The Necklace of Seven Souls prompted Jaljuli to delve into her family history, specifically recalling her great-grandfather's experience during the Nakba. His journey to bring back a sewing machine, only to never return, resonated with the themes in the narrative. Both protagonists’ grandmothers share echoes of her family's experiences, reinforcing the book’s thematic focus on intergenerational storytelling.
Seeking Connections Through Translation
Translating this book involved a commitment to authenticity. Jaljuli emphasized the importance of presenting Palestine in a manner that avoids colonial framing, ensuring that terms like "Nakba" remain intact for curious readers. The collaboration with Shawa was crucial, especially since the original Arabic YA text is typically more concise than English counterparts. The English edition expands on the characters of Farida and Mazen, providing deeper insights into their lives as teenagers.
Hassan Tarek is an arts and culture writer based in Cairo, Egypt.
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