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- Country of residence: Canada
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Dr. Issa Boullata, born in Jerusalem on February 25, 1929, was a Palestinian university professor, writer, and translator, renowned for his contributions to translating Arabic literature into English.
Boullata was born during the era of the British Mandate over Palestine. He earned his Bachelor of Arts in Arabic and Islamic Studies from the University of London in 1964, followed by a Doctorate in Arabic Literature in 1969 from the same institution. He began his career as a teacher of Arabic Studies at Hartford Theological College in Connecticut, later joining McGill University in Montreal in 1975. At McGill's Institute of Islamic Studies, he imparted knowledge on Arabic literature, modern Arab thought, and Qur’anic studies until his retirement in 2004. Recognized for his academic excellence, he was bestowed with the title of honorary professor on September 1, 2009. Throughout his tenure in Hartford and Montreal, he supervised the completion of ten doctoral theses and 38 master's theses. Boullata resided in Montreal until his passing.
Apart from his academic pursuits, Boullata was prolific in both writing and translation. He authored numerous works on Arabic literature, poetry, and the Qur’an, along with contributing articles and reviews to specialized periodicals and encyclopedias. Notably, he emerged as a leading figure in the translation of Arabic literature into English, winning the Arkansas Prize for Arabic Translation twice. Additionally, he served as a contributing editor for the London-based magazine, Banipal. Boullata's legacy continues to resonate in the realm of Arabic literature and translation.
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