'Holy Wednesday' by Mahmoud Aboudoma, translated by Sarah Enany

"Holy Wednesday" is a long short story by Mahmoud Aboudoma in translation by Banipal-winning Sarah Enany.

Mahmoud Aboudoma is an author, novelist, short story writer, and theatre director. He was born in Upper Egypt in 1953 and now lives and works in Alexandria; the overpowering mythos of Upper Egyptian life still captivates his imagination and informs his writing. He founded the Alternative Theatre Group, Alexandria's first independent theatre company, taught drama at Alexandria University, was theatre consultant for the Alexandria Library for ten years, and has written and directed many theatrical performances locally, regionally, and internationally. His Dawlat and Other Stories, centering on Upper Egyptian folklore and daily life, is available on Amazon.

Sarah Enany is a literary translator who works between Arabic and English. She has had this affliction for at least 30 years; it is probably hereditary since her parents were both literary translators. Among the works she has perpetrated is The Girl With Braided Hair by Rasha Adly, which won the 2022 Banipal Prize for translation. She currently lives in Cairo, which her family infests, and can be reached at sarahenany@hotmail.com