HIBAPRESS
The Moroccan novel "Haut Maroc" by writer Yassin Adnan continues to garner positive international recognition, after the Italian version of the work managed to secure a place on the longlist for the sixth edition of the "Pisa" Prize for Translated Literature (Pisa Book Translation Awards).
This new success, published by Del Vecchio Editore, reflects the natural extension of the journey of this text, which attracted attention since its birth in Arabic in 2016, and its arrival on the longlist of the Arab "Booker" Prize in 2017, before embarking on a linguistic alienation journey that included French and English before settling on the shelves of Italian libraries, carrying with it a satirical and in-depth dissection of the world of digital platforms and the phenomenon of fragmented identities, through a hero who oscillates between a daily, troubled reality and a parallel life charged behind the screens. This renewed European presence was based on a professional translation crafted by translator Antonino Di Spozito, who excelled in deconstructing the highly specific original structure of the text; where Classical Arabic mixes with Moroccan dialect and the language of the digital age, transferring it to Italian with flexibility that preserved the novel's mocking rhythm and local spirit, which was praised by Italian critics. Before this nomination, the novel had recorded a remarkable presence by reaching the shortlist for the Italian "Premio Acerbi" (Acerbi Prize) in its 2025 edition, which was exceptionally dedicated to Moroccan culture, paving the way for its current brilliance in the "Pisa" Prize – affiliated with the University and Pisa Book Festival since 2021 – which focuses specifically on supporting the independent publishing sector and its role in presenting serious global literature away from traditional commercial consumption.
