DALAL NASRALLAH

I worked on reprinting and issuing the book “Love is a doctor” translated by the late Dr. Mahmoud Tawfiq Al-Jarrah. I obtained an old copy and put significant effort into presenting it in a new edition that does justice to this rare literary work. Alongside the book, I conducted an analytical study to uncover its literary significance. To gain insights from experts in this field, I shared the work with Professor Dalal Nasrallah, an accomplished Kuwaiti literary translator who received the Youth Creativity Award in 2019 for Culture, Arts, and Literature. Professor Dalal holds the distinction of being the first translator of an Italian book in the Arabian Gulf and the first literary agent in Kuwait, with a portfolio of more than seventeen translated books. To acquaint readers with Kuwaiti youth who operate behind the scenes, away from the media spotlight, Professor Dalal embarked on a translation journey. With gratitude towards those who aided her in this endeavor, she delved into various languages like Korean and Persian before settling on English and Italian. While she pursued an academic specialization in English, her love for exploration led her to choose Italian, which captivated her with its richness and beauty, stemming from a complex blend of historical heritage and modernity born from suffering and wars. In an interview, Professor Dalal expressed her aspirations and revealed her current pursuit of learning the Chinese language, aiming to delve into its nuances despite its relatively low usage. Upon closely examining her translations and literary contributions, I discovered that Professor Dalal tended to gravitate towards autobiographical translations. She undertook numerous book translations, each of which encapsulated the essence of a Western writer or prominent figure’s life. For instance, she released “A Hermit in Paris” by the Italian writer and novelist Italo Calvino. In this book, Calvino endeavors to provide readers with a glimpse into his inner world and expresses his diverse perspectives. In addition, Professor Dalal published a notable intellectual work titled “The Smell of Books” by Italian writer Giampiero Mogini. She also presented the book “Why Do We Read Classical Literature?” by Italo Calvino, where the author critically and interpretively examines a considerable number of works that shaped cultural awareness. These are just a few examples among the many other books she has translated. Four translations were also published: “The Music of Silence” by Andrea Bocelli, “The Book of Lost Names” by Christine Harmel, “The Library of Paris” by Janet Skeslin Charles, and “The Humans” by Matt Hague. Professor Dalal Nasrallah consistently prioritizes the Arabic language, as she mentioned in a press interview. Her book selection process revolves around determining the usefulness of each work for the Arabic language and evaluating how much our Arabic library can benefit from such contributions. She also emphasizes the significance of acquiring a strong command of the Arabic language and its associated disciplines, including rhetoric, grammar, and literature, for aspiring translators. Professor Dalal Nasrallah’s contributions expand beyond translating literary works, encompassing journalism and film translation as well. This raises questions about the level of interest among our emerging youth in this multifaceted and valuable field and highlights the lack of support from institutions and government in nurturing such talented individuals. Unfortunately, culture and literature receive little attention, resulting in the gradual decline and distortion of the Arabic language within our country. The education sector suffers from neglect, reflected in inadequate curricula. As for our esteemed council, it prioritizes other matters, relegating the promotion of literature to a lower priority. Nevertheless, Professor Dalal fearlessly embraced reading and presenting the book “Love is a doctor” by the late Dr. Mahmoud Tawfiq Al-Jarrah, despite the challenges involved in completing such work during the fifties. This period lacked electronic dictionaries, advanced translation studies, and tools to assist translators in their tasks. The professional presentation of the book will soon be available for readers to explore. In conclusion, I express gratitude and appreciation to Professor Dalal for her invaluable reading and commendation of the translation by the late Dr. Mahmoud Tawfiq Al-Jarrah, and I proudly declare that the nation takes pride in her accomplishments.

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