The Egyptian novelist's latest book, 'Contrary to What Came Before', prompts a deeper meditation on life, death, and the possibility of renewal

The Arab world has a vibrant and rich literary scene. Al Majalla picks out some choice titles in our fortnightly round-up of the latest Arabic books

The spoken word has kept a key component of Algeria's social mosaic alive for generations, but now technology is stepping in to do the heavy lifting

In this monthly round-up, Al Majalla surveys the latest releases from Arab and international cinema, from arthouse to blockbuster and everything in between

Al Majalla traces the evolution of the solo improvisation musical form indigenous to the Middle East region

'Plomb' is a dark, unsettling debut novel by the French writer that explains violence in language, body and consciousness

Born just over 100 years ago, Al Majalla takes a look at the life and career of the handsome lead actor

Where social media offers magic solutions, the real world delivers slammed doors

Christopher Nolan's latest film is the latest in a long line of works that retell the timeless tale

Our ancestors managed the land with controlled fires that reduced the accumulation of dry wood and vegetation. Not doing so means we now have giant fuel stores. Sometimes, the old ways are the best