enough!blog

Hisham Matar talks to Enough!’s Sarah Abdurrahman about his work, his father and Libya. In this interveiw, Hisham describes writing his critcally acclaimed novel, In the Country of Men, and the memories that inspired it. He discusses living with the memory of his father, Libyan activist and political prisoner Jaballa Matar. Finally, Hisham shares his ideas about Libya’s problems, its future and its potentials.

Part I (0 min – 24 min)

to download an .mp3 of Part I, click here

In Part I, Hisham talks to Enough! about his path to becoming an author and to writing In the Country of Men. He describes his writing processes, his inspiration and the role his father played in supporting his love of the arts.

Part II (24 min – 42 min)

to download an .mp3 of Part II, click here

In Part II of Enough!’s interview with Hisham Matar, the award-winning author recalls his personal experiences with Libyan political turmoil. In particular he discusses the story of his father and the effects of his father’s absence and presence.

Part III (42 min – end)

to download an .mp3 of Part III, click here

In the final part of the inteview, Hisham turns his attention to broader issues realted to Libya, its turbulent past, the problems it continues to face and the pressing demands of the future. In particular, the author describes the need to shift the discussion about Libya from merely a political one to a cultural one. He highlights the need to think about a post-Gaddafi Libya. How will Libyans begin the long process of healing the fractures of the last several decades?