Leila Aboulela is a novelist, short story writer and playwright of Sudanese descent whose works, written in English, have received significant critical acclaim for their subtle and nuanced explorations of cultural identification, diasporic experience and Islamic faith. Aboulela began writing in 1992 after moving to the Scottish city of Aberdeen, and her short story, “The Museum”, was subsequently awarded the first ever Caine Prize for African Writing in 2000. She has since published a collection of short stories,

Coloured Lights

(2001), and two novels,

The Translator

(1999) and

Minaret

(2005), each of which dramatizes the complexities of ideological and emotional encounter between Sudanese and British subjects. Her works have been praised for their depiction of what is described as a…

2003 words

Citation: Ball, Anna. "Leila Aboulela". The Literary Encyclopedia. First published 10 May 2010 [https://www.litencyc.com/php/speople.php?rec=true&UID=12625, accessed 19 March 2024.]

12625 Leila Aboulela 1 Historical context notes are intended to give basic and preliminary information on a topic. In some cases they will be expanded into longer entries as the Literary Encyclopedia evolves.

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