By Sameer Ibrahim
The website alkutub.de stands out in the European cultural scene as an online platform for the distribution and sale of Arabic books in Germany. The site, which is maintained by the German publisher Schiler & Mücke, has a large selection of thousands of titles. It includes modern Arabic literature as well as translations of German and international works into Arabic. The selection is not only aimed at adults, but also includes children’s books, educational works, and bilingual books – in collaboration with a number of Arabic publishers.
Cooperation with Arab publishers
The Schiler & Mücke publishing house is a living example of cross-border cultural exchange. It has a special and long-standing partnership with the Iraqi poet and publisher Khalid al-Maali, founder of the Dar al-Jamal publishing house, which operates in Cologne, Beirut, and Baghdad. This partnership has contributed to the publication of a series of contemporary literary translations, including novels, poems, and short stories. These works by authors from Egypt, Morocco, Lebanon, Iraq, and other Arab countries are often published in bilingual editions (Arabic-German). Al-Kawkab’s titles published in Arabic are distributed on the European market by Schiler & Mücke.
Arabic new releases at a glance
In an interview with tuenews INTERNATIONAL, Hans Schiler, co-founder of the publishing house, said: “Today we have around 5,000 books in Arabic in our catalog, as well as several bilingual books in Arabic and German. The publishing house was founded in Berlin in 1977 and opened the first Arabic bookstore in Germany there. In 2010, it moved to Tübingen. The aim is to cater to the interests of readers: “Most of the orders we receive are for Arabic literature, along with a few cookbooks and specialist books.”
Schiler added: “We keep a close eye on new publications in newspapers and Arabic websites, as well as through ongoing contact with Arabic publishers.” He also pointed out that the influx of refugees from Syria and Iraq to Germany since 2015 has contributed to the emergence of new Arabic-language publishers in Berlin, Bremen, and other German cities. This has given the Arabic book market in the country a new lease of life.
Arabic literature for city libraries
The Tübingen-based publisher Schiler & Mücke supplies not only private customers but also specialist libraries and public libraries. In recent years, more and more Arabic departments have been established there. “Immigrants can read books in their native language there. That’s very important,” says Schiler. The publisher is also passionate about ensuring that there are more and more bilingual books for children: “This contributes to integration.”
Bridge between cultures
Even though interest has grown, Schiler says there are still challenges when it comes to literary translation. He admits, “We have only a few specialized translators and so far no team of our own for translating Arabic literature.”
The Schiler & Mücke publishing house, with its online platform alkutub.de, does not see itself as just a bookseller. It wants to play a cultural role in building bridges between cultures and expanding the Arab presence in the European literary scene.
Further information
schiler-muecke.de
alkutub.de
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