Jokha Alharthi

About

Jokha Alharthi is an Omani novelist and academic whose work explores family, memory, gender, and the transformation of Omani society. Born in Oman in 1978, she earned a PhD in classical Arabic literature from the University of Edinburgh in 2011 and teaches at Sultan Qaboos University in Muscat. Writing in Arabic, Alharthi has published novels, short-story collections, children’s books, and scholarly works. She gained international recognition in 2019 when her novel Celestial Bodies, translated into English by Marilyn Booth, won the Man Booker International Prize. Alharthi became the first Arabic-language author to receive the award, bringing greater international attention to Omani literature. Her novel Bitter Orange Tree, originally published in Arabic as Narinjah in 2016, further demonstrates her interest in the complexities of women’s lives, social expectations, and the emotional connections between generations. Her writing offers readers an intimate perspective on Omani culture while exploring experiences that resonate across borders.