Support Us

Supporting Banipal and its archive

Banipal, the independent literary magazine, was begun in 1998 by two individuals who loved Arab literature and believed in promoting dialogue between different cultures by bringing this literature to the rest of the world through translation into English.

In November 2020, the 69th Banipal was published, after months in which the world Covid pandemic changed everyone's lives. These 69 issues were produced by a small, dedicated team, backed by a brilliant army of translators, contributing and consulting editors, reviewers, interns, and, of course, all the authors.

Over the years, Banipal received great acclaim for its role in revealing the wealth of Arab literary works, with some academics even talking about “Before Banipal” and “After Banipal” in terms of the availability of English translations of contemporary literature from the Arab world.

In today’s world, even though the magazine ceased publishing in December 2022 with its 75th issue, Banipal's work is still very much relevant, and ever more needed.

The archive of the 75 issues remains, the biographies of all the authors we published, all the translators and reviewers, that is, all the contributorse can be found here on the website.  For more information about when an author was published, just check the alphabetical index here.  

Banipal's independent voice remains an ever more open window on the literature of Arab authors.  

The electronic archive of issues is available for institutions and libraries to subscribe to via our digital partner Exact Editions. 

By making a contribution, however small, you will help us to continue the vital work of maintaining and expanding the website. As regards publishing, Banipal Books is continuing to publish paperback literary works in translation from Arabic, taking over from the magazine format.  All information about our books can be found here. 


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"Not merely a bridge between two cultures
but . . . a laboratory that illuminates the styles
of modern Arabic writings” – Adonis

From Banipal No 1,
February 1998 

to Banipal 72
November 2021



“A unique voice in the literary world,
an exercise in the art of the possible.
Long may it remain so.”
Nick March, The National

And, on to 
Banipals in 2022, Nos 73, 74 & 75  . . .