Lorenzo Strolla brings the past to life at SIBF

The 45th edition of the Sharjah International Book Fair (SIBF) opened its doors to visitors on Wednesday, drawing book lovers from across the UAE to Expo Centre Sharjah to meet their favourite authors and get their books signed. The 12-day fair is bringing together literary talents and creative minds from around the world.

Among them is Lorenzo Strolla, an Abu Dhabi-based Italian writer who was seen engaging with curious visitors on Thursday evening, sharing his knowledge of ancient Arabian history. Strolla has a deep passion for ancient history and can speak about the subject enthusiastically for hours. Introducing himself, he said, “I am Italian originally, with Syrian and Armenian roots.”

His debut book, “Following the Arabian Pearl,” explores the rich history, ancient civilisations and cultural heritage of the wider Arabian Peninsula.” Born in Abu Dhabi, Strolla lived in Italy before returning to his birthplace, where he currently resides.

He was delighted to be part of SIBF for the first time. Sharing his experience, he said, “This is my first visit to the book fair, and I loved it. It is welcoming, and I liked the fact that it promotes all kinds of books from around the world.”

Although he studied Political Science and Economics, his interest in history remained strong. “I studied Political Science and Economics, but I also took a lot of history courses,” he said.

His fascination with ancient history began at an early age and eventually inspired him to write his debut book. Speaking about the writing process, Strolla said, “It took almost one and a half years to write this book. I did a lot of research and spent long hours on the internet looking for details.”

The book traces the ancient history of Arabia, going back thousands of years. It explores several historical periods, including the Hafit, Umm Al Nar and Wadi Suq periods, the Iron Age and the Mleiha period, alongside other significant events that shaped the region.

Highlighting some lesser-known historical connections, Strolla pointed out that Roman ruins and Latin inscriptions can also be found in Saudi Arabia. “My book is filled with interesting historical details that readers may find both surprising and fascinating,” he added.

Reflecting on readers’ responses to his work, he said, “People don’t know much about this history, so they are surprised.”

With his debut work now published, Strolla has already begun thinking about his next project. His second book, he revealed, will explore the Byzantine Empire. He expressed confidence that the book would appeal to readers with a keen interest in the ancient history of Arabia.

Meanwhile, International Booker Prize-winning translator, Daisy Rockwell, discussed her fascination with language, the demands of literary translation and the creative judgement behind her work. Speaking during a session titled “Across Languages: Daisy Rockwell on the Art of Literary Translation”, the American writer, artist and Hindi-Urdu translator discussed her fascination with language and the challenges of recreating literature in English.

“When you translate, you are literally building a new novel, because you are writing in a new language that has its unique words and meanings,” she said, explaining that translators must work within the vocabulary and expressive possibilities of the new language while preserving the original meaning.

The 12-day SIBF is being held at Expo Centre Sharjah and features 1,500 cultural, creative and artistic activities, including literary discussions, author interactions, workshops, theatrical performances, the Thriller Festival and Cookery Corner. Organised by the Sharjah Book Authority (SBA), the fair brings together 3,212 publishers and exhibitors from 126 countries, showcasing more than 1.7 million titles.