Arabi/Englizi by Faisal J. Abbas

Arabi-Englizi

A story about London through Arab eyes

__________________________________________________________

By: Faisal J. Abbas

Arabi/Englizi by Faisal J. Abbas

Published in Arabic in the United Arab Emirates via Kuttab (April 2017)

Contents:

i- About the author

ii- About the book

iii- Chapter breakdown

iv- Sample artwork

v- Unique selling points

vi- Samples of media coverage

vii- Publishing/Media inquiries and contact details

Arabi/Englizi by Faisal J. Abbas

THE AUTHOR

With a career in journalism spanning

over 15 years, Faisal J. Abbas has

dedicated most of his life to writing.

Currently the Editor-in-Chief of Arab

News, the leading English-language

international Arab daily, he has

previously with the regional Al Arabiya

News Channel, and reported for both

leading London-based pan-Arab dailies:

Asharq Al Awsat and al-Hayat.

He has appeared regularly to comment

on Arab affairs for Sky News, BBC and

CNN and is a recipient of numerous

media awards, including the London-based Next Century Foundation’s Cutting Edge Award (2009)

for extraordinary efforts in nurturing understanding between the West and the Arab World; and and

British Council’s “Social Impact” award for UK alumni in Saudi Arabia (2017).

Born in 1982, Abbas grew up in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. He obtained his bachelor’s degree from the Lebanese American University (LAU) and his masters from the University of Westminster in London.

Described by Arab reviewers familiar with modern British literature as the Bill Bryson of the Middle East, Faisal J. Abbas obtained a valuable endorsement for the Arabic edition of his book by non-other than legendary Londoner/veteran Saudi journalist Othman al-Omair who, in a rare occasion, agreed to pen the introduction for Arabi-Englizi.

More details available on:

www.faisaljabbas.com

Arabi/Englizi by Faisal J. Abbas

THE BOOK

The first announcement of the book 2016 was made the Emirates Literature Festival and a publishing deadline of 2017 was set. The above image is from the preview trailer which was shown at the event back then https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r7yt41qMlTI

In his new book Arabi-Englizi, Faisal J Abbas reflects on his own experience as an Arab person who lived in a foreign country, and describes the culture differences he went through when he moved from Saudi Arabia to the United Kingdom upon receiving a job offer to work with the leading pan-Arab London-based daily, Asharq Al Awsat. He explores how his experiences have changed him and challenged his preconceived ideas and outlook on life. And if he can undermine negative stereotypes held by both east and west, so much the better! Having lived through and reported on events such the 7-7 bombings as well gone through the usual social, emotional, romantic and professional ups and downs of a foreigner arriving to a new country; Arabi-Englizi is a collection of observations of the British capital, mixing journalistic reporting with anthropology and personal experiences.

Arabi/Englizi by Faisal J. Abbas

THE CHAPTERS

1. “Charlie and the chocolate factory”

What are the preconceived ideas that an Arab

has prior to relocating to “The West”; how the

excitement of winning a “Golden Ticket” to go

live and work in London can be overshadowed

by the negativity of a culture which sometimes

only sees the worst in any opportunity.

2. “Great Expectations”

How our preconceived ideas compare to the reality on the

grounds? Is London made up of streets of gold and rivers

of chocolate? Or is it a miserable, grey and cold place

where people simply don’t have the time to talk to you.

3. “Pride and Prejudice”

This is a chapter about being Arab in England. Do you play

by the rules or do you seek to outsmart the system (well,

because we are genetically smarter than everyone else,

right?). a look at how different Arabs choose to integrate

in their new society

4. “Alice in Wonderland”

Now that you have accepted to integrate in the British

society… good luck trying to understand it! Does “tea”

mean tea or does it mean dinner? Oh and by the way,

what is the difference between having dinner and having

supper? How could a “public school” be a private school?

“Alice in Wonderland” is about the fascinating journey of

figuring out what it means to be British.

Arabi/Englizi by Faisal J. Abbas

5. “The God Delusion”

Coming from Saudi Arabia where religion plays a vital

part in people’s lives, one expects upon arriving to the

United Kingdom, where the Queen is the Head of the

Church and the Defender of Faith, that the British society

would be somewhat religious. Yet, when places of

worship are turned into pubs and nightclubs, people go

jogging at cemeteries and atheism is on the rise; one has

to stop and ask, what role does religion play in British

society today?

6. “Captain Hook”

As an Arab-Muslim journalist living in London,

covering the aftermath of 7-7 was a truly

remarkable experience. Yet, as fascinating as

discovering how the British can indeed “Keep

calm and carry on”; it was shocking to see how

several radical Muslim hate-preachers (some

of which have been sentenced to death in their own countries) behaved in a

society which not only took them in, but has given them nearly everything they

need to survive and thrive.

7. “Belle Du Jour”

Yes, this chapter is about sex…and the city! But keep

your shirt on, this book is still an Arabic one so don’t

expect “Fifty Shades of Grey” just yet!

8. “Romeo and Juliette”

So, how did the British change from being the people

associated with most romantic piece of literature ever-

written to the de facto choice when Hollywood directors

want to cast a heartless, ice-cold evil villain? Furthermore,

would an Arab-English romantic relationship ever work… or

would that be forbidden love?

Arabi/Englizi by Faisal J. Abbas

9. “A Study in Scarlet”

It all becomes about going “back to school” when the

author decides to take on a part-time Masters in

Marketing Communication course at the University of

Westminster. However, coming from an educational

background which mostly relies on spoon-feeding; the

study experience was an eye-opener in terms of critical

thinking and lecturers who tell you that they might be

wrong.

10. “The Office”

What is it like moving from being a journalist Arab

newspaper to working as an advertising salesman at a

massive British publishing house? Well, this chapters

seeks to compare the work-ethic, transparency levels,

diversity and last but not least: gossip and office politics

at - what turns out to be - two VERY different working

environments!

11. “Absent in the Spring”

It is 2011 and the Arab Spring is at full-throttle.

Suddenly, it became exotic to be an Arab in London,

from people congratulating you on the tube (Simply

because you look Middle Eastern) the day after Egypt’s

Mubarak stepped down to suddenly being invited – as

a pundit – to comment on the BBC and debate at the

Cambridge Union Society. However, as the author finds

out, you can take the man out of journalism, but you simply can’t take

journalism out of the man; alas, a return to reporting was definite… but what

the author didn’t realize was that meant it is also back to the Arab World.

Arabi/Englizi by Faisal J. Abbas

12. “Bye-Bye London”

Named after the famous Kuwaiti 1980’s play about the

British capital, this chapter concludes a journey which

lasted nearly a decade. So what does that much time in

London do to a man? Well, you certainly start talking

much more about the weather, getting flabbergasted

when you see people attempting to jump a queue but

more importantly, you simply become much more

tolerant and accepting of others. Will this change after

Brexit? Is the United Kingdom become less open and

more intolerant? The authors gives the last word.

Arabi/Englizi by Faisal J. Abbas

SAMPLE ART WORK

Arabi/Englizi by Faisal J. Abbas

UNIQUE SELLING POINTS

A fascinating modern collection of observations of the British capital, mixing

journalistic reporting with anthropology and personal experiences.

Arabi-Engleezi: London Through Arab Eyes chronicles the author’s time in London and

delves deeply into what it means to live as an immigrant in a Western metropolis.

The crux of the book is to combat the misconceptions and stereotypes that Arabs hold

of the West, and vice versa. The reader experiences firsthand how the author takes on

these stereotypes, and how he tries to dismantle them. It celebrates the unifying

characteristic of all humanity: that we all make errors in judgment and can learn from

each other’s past mistakes.

The book aims to target:

Brits/English speakers interested in understanding an informed Arab perception

of life in the UK

Fellow journalists who would enjoy the reporting-style and citations of actual

news stories (either covered by the author himself or of fellow reporters) which

occurred while the author lived in the UK

Visiting Arabs or Arabs who have lived in the UK for a long time as while many

may have different experiences, the themes described in the book apply to all.

Arabi/Englizi by Faisal J. Abbas

MEDIA COVERAGE

“The real British ambassador…”

Faisal J. Abbas was dubbed “the real British ambassador” by HE Simon Collis, the

British ambassador to Saudi Arabia, after giving his speech at a special event hosted

by the British embassy in Jeddah.

To watch the video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3qhNPAOStE4

Arabi/Englizi by Faisal J. Abbas

Link: http://ar.newsweekme.com/%d9%85%d8%ba%d8%a7%d9%85%d8%b1%d8%a7%d8%aa-

%d9%85%d9%8f%d8%ba%d8%aa%d8%b1%d8%a8-%d8%b9%d8%b1%d8%a8%d9%8a-

%d9%81%d9%8a-%d9%84%d9%86%d8%af%d9%86

Arabi/Englizi by Faisal J. Abbas

Link: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/arabi-englizi-faisal-abbas-london-experience-

straddling_us_593e3a1ae4b0b65670e56c15

Arabi/Englizi by Faisal J. Abbas

Link: http://m.aawsat.com/home/article/922846/البريطانية-يروي-قصته-مع-العاصمة-فيصل-عباس

Arabi/Englizi by Faisal J. Abbas

Link: http://english.alarabiya.net/en/special-reports/2016/03/13/Author-Faisal-J-Abbas-

announces-new-book-at-Emirates-Lit-Festival.html

Arabi/Englizi by Faisal J. Abbas

Link: http://www.shufilondon.com/new-book-to-examine-london-through-arab-eyes/

Arabi/Englizi by Faisal J. Abbas

Link: http://elaph.com/Web/News/2017/4/1145720.html

Arabi/Englizi by Faisal J. Abbas

Link: http://saudigazette.com.sa/life/arabi-

englizi-story-london-arab-eyes/

Arabi/Englizi by Faisal J. Abbas

Link: http://www.alroeya.ae/87088/

Arabi/Englizi by Faisal J. Abbas

Link: goo.gl/g7wWHM

Arabi/Englizi by Faisal J. Abbas

Link: goo.gl/aBJCih

Arabi/Englizi by Faisal J. Abbas

Link: https://al-ain.com/article/faisal-abbas

Arabi/Englizi by Faisal J. Abbas

PUBLISHING/MEDIA INQUIRIES AND CONTACT DETAILS

Publisher: Kuttab Publishing House, UAE (for Arabic edition only)

English/other languages are owned by the author Rights contact: Faisal J. Abbas via fjabbas@gmail.com Noelle Manalastas via noellemanalastas@gmail.com(+971529155090) Note: Author owns rights to English/other languages and digital Publication date: 15 April 2017 EAN\ISBN-13: To be confirmed later in March once Kuttab publishing finishes the process. Extent: 229 Book locale: United Kingdom