Bachtyar Ali’s ‘The Last Pomegranate Tree’ named among 21st century’s top 100 books by Neue Zürcher Zeitung

NEWSROOM — Renowned Kurdish author Bachtyar Ali’s novel “The Last Pomegranate Tree” has been included in the list of the top 100 books of the 21st century by the German-language newspaper Neue Zürcher Zeitung.

The announcement, part of NZZ’s review of the past 25 years, was curated by critics and experts following an extensive evaluation process.

Ali shared the news on his official Facebook page, highlighting the honor’s importance for Kurdish literature. He stated, “To say that ‘The Last Pomegranate Tree’ has secured its place among the top 100 books of the 21st century is to acknowledge its standing in a world of hundreds of thousands of books and tens of thousands of writers.”

First published in 2002, the novel follows Muzafari Subhdam, a Kurdish peshmerga fighter who, after enduring 21 years of solitary confinement in the desert, embarks on a quest to find his son, Saryas. His journey takes a mysterious turn as he learns that there are three identical individuals named Saryas. The magical realist story, set mainly against the backdrop of post-Saddam Hussein Kurdistan Region and the Kurdish civil war.

Years ago, in reflecting on his work, Ali remarked, “If I had to choose one of my books to take to another world, it would be this novel.”

The Last Pomegranate Tree has been translated into several languages, including German, English, Persian, Arabic, Turkish, Italian, and French. Originally written in Sorani Kurdish, it has also been adapted into Kurdish Kurmanji.

NZZ, one of Switzerland’s oldest newspapers, is known for its  coverage of global literary and cultural topics. Established in 1780, it is widely regarded a German-language newspaper of record, often likened to The New York Times in terms of influence.

The NZZ list of The 100 Best Books of the 21st Century begins with W.G. Sebald’s “Austerlitz”, followed by Jonathan Franzen’s “Freedom”, Svetlana Alexievich’s “Secondhand Time”, and Olga Tokarczuk’s gargantuan “The Books of Jacob”. J.K. Rowling’s megahit “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows” is at 15th.

Bachtyar Ali’s “The Last Pomegranate Tree” is ranked 80th on the list.

Born in 1960 in Sulaymaniyah, Ali has garnered recognition in the German-speaking literary world, receiving awards such as the Nelly Sachs Prize and the Hilde Domin Prize. Residing in Germany since the mid-1990s, he is celebrated as one of the most influential contemporary Kurdish writers. His incisive and critical explorations of Kurdish society and culture have played a pivotal role in shaping modern Kurdish literature.

This article has been updated to change “German” to “German-language” in the lede.