Salma Jayyusi
Pioneering Palestinian poet, translator, and anthologist who founded PROTA, significantly contributing to the promotion of Arabic literature in English.
Salma Khadra Jayyusi, born in 1925, was a prolific Palestinian poet, translator, and scholar who played a crucial role in introducing Arabic literature to English-speaking audiences. She founded the Project for the Translation of Arabic (PROTA), which aimed to provide high-quality translations of Arabic literature. Jayyusi's work spanned poetry, literary criticism, and anthology compilation. Her first poetry collection, "Return from the Dreamy Fountain," was published in 1960. Jayyusi's academic career included teaching at various universities worldwide. Her contributions to Arabic literature and translation earned her numerous accolades, including the Sheikh Zayed Book Award's Cultural Personality of the Year.