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Algerian Publishing Houses - Who's Who




Finding out what fiction gets published and by whom in Algeria is a tough task, from afar especially, but more and more publishing houses have opened facebook pages and keep them (more or less) updated with their latest publications, and with the events to which their writers go. I have to say that there is no one doing a better job of promoting a novel than their author - writers are still badly let down on that front.

Even if these publishing houses are on FB, they can be a pain to track down, and so I wanted to share the list of those I regularly check. I believe this list represents a small number of the Algerian publishing houses out there, especially for Arabic and Tamazight. Some publishers are tiny, self-financed by writers, and these tend to be less vocal or visible, and appear and disappear. But those shared here are some of the most active (at the time of writing this post!). Some of them have websites but they are useless, even the heavy weight Barzakh neglects its website.

All those I list specialise in fiction, but some do publish non-fiction every now and then (history and politics, mostly). You'll notice many edit books in one language only, either Arabic, French, or Tamazight. Researchers out there, it may be worth keeping an eye out on the phenomenon.

This list is a work in progress, so suggestions are welcome.

Most of these pages are open, but some do require you to befriend them so don't be put off. Just click on the link, and start book hunting!  



ARABIC


Almutawassit  المتوسط
Language: Arabic (based in Italy, publishes Algerian authors regularly)
(recently launched, active, exciting list of authors)

Dar Bouhima / بوهيما للنشر والتوزيع
Language: Arabic (based in Algeria)
(small publishers, not so active)

Dar elayn lilnashr
Language: Arabic (based in Egypt, publishes Algerian authors)
(small publishers, active)

Dar altanwir / دار التنوير للنشر والتوزيع. الجزائر
Language: Arabic (based in Algeria)
(small publishers, not so active)

DZ reads / الجزائر تقرأ
Language: Arabic (based in Algeria)
(recently launched, they began as a readers' group, then developped an ezibe, and built an impressive readership)

ElMotaqaf - منشورات المثقف للنشر والتوزيع
Language: Arabic (based in Algeria)
(small publishers, I love them because they published Djamila Morani's Tufah el-Djinn)

Giga books
Language: Arabic (based in Algeria)
(small publishers, active)

Khyal editions - خيال للنشر والترجمة
Language: Arabic (based in Algeria)
(recently launched, active, exciting list of authors)

Manshurat El-Ikhtilef - منشورات الاختلاف
Language: Arabic (based in Algeria)
(old publishing house directed by Assua Moussei, publishes well-known authors such as Bachir Moufti, Amin Zaoui, Rabia Djelti, etc)

MIM edition - دار مـــيم لــلــنــشــر
Language: Arabic (based in Algeria)
(my favourite publishers in Arabic, directed by one of my favourite Algerian novelist Assia Ali Moussa)


FRENCH
Apic editions
Language: French (based in Algeria)
(well-established publishers, their authors are well-known)

Média-Plus editions
Language: French (based in Algeria)
(newish publishers, have their own bookshop in Constantine)

Frantz Fanon editions
Language: French (based in Algeria)
(well-established house, active, directed by the journalist Amar Ingrachen, they publish the cosy-novels of Ahmed Gasmia)

Koukou editions
Language: French (based in France)
(well-established, active, run by the journalist Mohamed Benchicou author of very entertaining 'Bouteflika: an imposture')

Kalima editions
Language: French (based in Algeria)
(small publishers, not so active lately)

Sedia editions       
Language: French (based in Algeria)
(well-established publishers, specialises in history, essays, and study books, they published the excellent Amel Chouati's "Les algériennes du chateau d'Ambroise", a historical research on the fate of the women who were jailed with the Emir AbdelKader by the French authorities)



TAMAZIGHT

Editions Achab
Language: Tamazight (based in Algeria)
(very active, regularly publishes bilingual Tamazight-French editions)
 
Editions Chikh Mohand Oulhoucine
Language: Tamazight (based in Algeria)
(small publishers, irregular activity)
Language: Tamazight (based in Algeria)
(very active, regularly publishes bilingual Tamazight-French editions)

Tafat editions
Language: Tamazight (based in Algeria)
(has been running for some time, but irregular activity)


ARABIC / FRENCH

Barzakh editions
Language: French / Arabic (based in Algeria)
(one the most high-profile publishers in Algeria for the French language)

Casbah editions
Language: French / Arabic (based in Algeria)
(well-established publishers, has exclusivity on Yasmina Khadra releases in Algeria)

Dar El Maarifa
Language: Arabic / French (based in Algeria)
(also do study books for children)

 Hibr editions
Language: Arabic / French (based in Algeria)
(well-established publishers)

ARABIC / FRENCH / TAMAZIGHT

Anep editions
Language: French / Arabic / Tamazight (based in Algeria)
(ANEP is Algeria's national publishing house, that is, funded by the State and as such holds an exclusive spot)

Chihab editions
Language: French / Arabic / Tamazight (based in Algeria)
(well-established publishers, active, with their own bookshop in Algiers, publish authors like Amal Bouchareb)

Talantikit editions
Language: French / Arabic / Tamazight (based in Bejaia, Algeria)
(not sure when they were established, active)


GRAPHIC NOVELS AND COMIX

Dalimen editions
Language: French / Arabic / Tamazight (based in Algeria)
(well-established publishers with their own bookshop in Algiers, one of the rare editors to specialise in graphic novels and comix, publishes exciting stories, they are also the hardest books to find on this planet, unresponsive when contacted from abroad or from within Algeria - you can tell i am very frustrated with them).

Laabstore - Z-link 
Language: French / Arabic / Tamazight (based in Algeria)
(one of the first to have gone for publishing comic books, and mangas made by Algerian mangaka, one of the rare editors to specialise in comix, published one of my favourite comix Algerian Love)

 
ALGERIA-BASED EBOOKS STORES

With a growing catalogue of fiction and non-fiction published in Algeria, including books for children, Aramebook is one of the reliable and safe ebook stores distributors of Algerian literature. Provides the immediate download of purchased books in PDF format (secure online payment, book prices in Algerian Dinars and Euros)

An ebook store that began as a readers' platform with a massive number of followers. Ebooks by Algerian Arabophone authors are given pride of place with over 400 novels, and short stories. The catalogue includes books for children. The books-in-French section offers classic titles, and the English section is currently being enriched. Prices are in Algerian Dinars.

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