The Short Story in Libya: Its Origins, Development, and Trends

Abstract

 This study, entitled "The Short Story in Libya: Origin, Development, and Trends," provides a historical and artistic tracking of the journey of the short story genre within the Libyan literary landscape. The study seeks to uncover the early roots of this literary genre, reviewing the initial premises that blended folk tales, prose, and poetic narrative, alongside the influence of Arab and local journalism in shaping its beginnings. It also examines the short story production from the mid-1930s to the late 1940s, highlighting the role of pioneers such as Wahbi al-Bouri and the magazine "Libya al-Musawwara" in establishing contemporary artistic standards. Furthermore, the study traces the qualitative leap witnessed during the 1950s, 1960s, and beyond regarding artistic maturity and the emergence of published short story collections, coinciding with economic and social transformations. Finally, the research classifies the trends of the Libyan short story into social, political, and historical dimensions, while providing guide biographies of the most prominent pioneering and founding figures who enriched the Libyan literary library