winner Critisism & Literature Studies
First Circle 1988-1989

• Born in Bethlehem, Palestine, 1920.
• Migrated to Iraq with his family in 1948.
• Studied at the Arab College in Jerusalem, Exeter University, Cambridge University and Harvard University.
• Founded, with Jawad Saleem, Baghdad Modern Arts Group in 1951.
• Chaired Information and Publication Bureau at the National Iraqi Oil Company and launched Oil & World Magazine.
• Worked as an expert at the Iraqi Ministry of Culture and Information between 1977 and 1984.
• Worked as Editor-in-Chief at the Arab Arts magazine published in London by Wasit House between 1980 and 1983.
• Chaired Iraqi Art Critics Association since its establishment in 1982.

Awards

• Targa Europa Award, 1983
• Kuwait Scientific Advancement Establishment’s Literature and Arts Award, 1987.
• Jerusalem Medal for Culture, Arts and Literature, 1990.

Decision of the General Secretariat

Jabra is distinguished by his creative criticism, as it is borne of deep knowledge and a delicate taste specialised in prose, poetry and the arts. He combined Arab and western cultures and was able to open the Arab mind to various cultures through his translations and studies. His impact on Arab generations is similar to his critical impact through his views in his books Freedom and Flood and The Eighth Journey.

Famous Works    

• Screaming in a Long Night, novel, 1955
• Sweat and Other Stories, 1956
• July in the City, poems, 1959
• Hunters in a Narrow Road, novel in English, translated into Arabic in 1974
• Freedom and Flood, criticism studies, 1960
• Art in Iraq of Today, in English, 1961
• Closed Orbit, poetry, 1964
• The Eighth Journey, criticism studies, 1967
• Modern Arts in Iraq, 1972
• Jawad Saleem and the Statue of Liberty, criticism studies, 1974
• The Fire and essence, poetic studies, 1975

Died on December 12, 1994