Famous Algerian Novelists

Assia Djebar was an Algerian novelist, translator, and filmmaker. She was a staunch feminist, and her works mostly revolved around the issues faced by women. She was fiercely anti-patriarchal and anti-colonial. In 2005, she became the first writer from the Maghreb to be elected to the Académie française. She received the 1996 Neustadt International Prize for Literature. 

Yasmina Khadra is an Algerian author who writes in French. Khadra has published his novels in over 50 countries and is widely regarded as one of the most popular Algerian novelists in the world. Some of his novels have been adapted into films. Yasmina Khadra is the recipient of several prestigious awards including the Henri Gal Literature Grand Prize.

Ahlam Mosteghanemi became the first female author from Algeria to have her books translated from Arabic to English. Daughter of militant activist Mohammed Cherif, Ahlam is known for her bestselling novels such as Memory of the Flesh. Her works reflect her fight against fundamentalism and corruption.

Mohammed Dib was an Algerian author who wrote more than 30 novels. He is also remembered for writing numerous poems, children's literature, and short stories in the French language. He is often counted among Algeria's most popular and prolific writers. Mohammed Dib was the recipient of the Fénéon Prize as well as the Mallarmé Prize.

Boualem Sansal is an Algerian author, novelist, and essayist who writes in French language. Over the years, Sansal's work has earned him important literary awards in France. In 2012, he won the Prix du roman arabe. However, the prize money was withdrawn after his visit to Israel where he spoke at the Jerusalem Writers Festival.

Rachid Boudjedra is an Algerian poet, playwright, novelist, and critic. He wrote in French between 1965 and 1981, after which he started writing in Arabic. He also spent much of his time translating his own works from French to Arabic and vice versa. Rachid Boudjedra is also known as a scriptwriter and has been involved in penning many films.

Taos Amrouche was an Algerian singer and writer. In 1947, she became the first woman from Algeria to publish a novel, when she released her autobiographical novel titled Jacinthe noire. Although she wrote in French, Taos Amrouche sang in Kabyle and her debut album Chants berbères de Kabylie was translated from Kabyle to French by her brother Jean.

Malek Haddad was an Algerian writer and poet. He wrote in the French language and achieved popularity as a novelist. Some of his popular novels include La Dernière impression, Je t’offrirai une gazelle, and Le Quai aux Fleurs ne répond plus. Apart from poems and novels, Malek Haddad also wrote essays like Les Zéros tournent en rond. 

Mourad Bourboune is an Algerian novelist, poet, and screenwriter who writes in French. He has also contributed to publications like El Moudjahid, working as its editor-in-chief soon after Algeria's independence in 1962. Mourad Bourboune is also credited with founding the Union of Algerian Writers along with Jean Sénac, Mouloud Mammeri, Djamel Amrani, and Lâadi Flici.