'The Kite Runner' Arabic novel cover London - Arabstoday Nearly ten years after its original publication, the international bestseller “The Kite Runner” has finally been released in Arabic. Bloomsbury Qatar Foundation Publishing announced that they will be publishing the official Arabic edition of the phenomenal novel written by Khalid Hosseini. The new translation is a fitting tribute to one of the most enduring novels to have come from the experiences of the contemporary Arab world, with hopes that the Arabic edition, “Ada Al Taera Al Waraqeya” will bring a new audience across the globe. Set in Afghanistan in the 1970’s, “The Kite Runner” tells the story of well-to-do Amir and his best friend Hassan, who is the son of his father’s servant. However, when Amir enters the local kite flying competition, the lives of the two boys are changed forever. Beautifully written by Khaled Hosseini, the story delves deep into life in Afghanistan during its monarchy’s tumultuous fall and the Soviet invasion. Hosseini himself was born in Kabul, Afghanistan, in 1965 and captures the upshot well. The son of a diplomat, his family received political asylum in the United States in 1980 and Hosseini wrote his first novel whilst practicing medicine. Talking about the release, Khalid Hosseini said: “I am excited and honoured about the prospects of the Arabic speaking readership discovering my work in their language. It is my hope that the characters and the themes of this book resonate with my Arabic speaking readers as they have done so with readers from around the world.” The beautiful novel, full of emotion and drama was an international bestseller in 2003. It also received the “South African Boeke Prize” in 2004, was voted the “Reading Group Book of the Year” for 2006 and 2007, was one of the first best sellers in the US and headed a list of 60 titles submitted by entrants to the “Penguin/Orange Reading Group Prize” in the UK. “The Kite Runner” was also adapted as a motion picture in 2007, starring Khalid Abdalla, Homayoun Ershadi and Ahmad Khan Mahmoodzada. Directed by Marc Forster, the film won numerous awards and was nominated for an Oscar in 2008, the BAFTA Film Award in 2008 and also the Critics Choice Award in 2008. With the unforgettable quote “For you, a thousand times over!” this wonderful book is truly a captivating and brilliant read.