Poetry is one flank of literature and writing fiction is another flank which has its characteristic elements depending on the genre. Prose writing could be tales portraying aspects of a nation, a community or a historical phase, social conflicts or an array of subjects comprising of characters revolving around a theme or other sub-themes set at a certain time. As poetry seems to transcend mundane limitations to hover elusively into a world of wonder and charm so does fiction but in a different manner: it does that through well-structured anecdotes with distinctive protagonists depicting nuances of life and its intricacies.
As in poetry, where it takes an exceptionally talented, sensitive and highly informed writer to unfold the secrets and wonders of his or her language in order to write unforgettable poetry, so does writing fictional tales where the writer weaves believable stories depicting the complexities of life recounted in captivating language. Many fiction writers have written tales that seem to resist passage of time and geography. Jane Austen (1775 - 1817), whose tales have incessantly been visited and revisited through reproductions of her works in print or on screen, was a novelist whose works of romantic fiction have earned her a place as one of the most widely read and most loved writers in world literature.

Realism
In her exceptionally elusive romantic fiction, there exists the “... realism and biting social commentary that have cemented her historical importance as an outstanding writer.” Charles John Huffam Dickens, (1812-1870) was one of the most popular writers of the Victorian time and widely read until our present day. He created some of the unfogettabe iconic characters in literature weaving his tales around the theme of social reform that pervades his literary legacy. Daphne du Maurier (1907-1989), was another distinguished writer who began writing short stories in 1928 and in 1931 she wrote her first novel “The Loving Spirit.” Afterwards, her most famous three novels, “Jamaica Inn,” “Frenchman’s Creek” and “Rebecca” were published. The stories she wrote evoked “... an immense knowledge of male and female character traits ... characters are displayed with all their faults, quirks and disparaging thoughts. This realism with which Du Maurier wrote was indeed remarkable.”

Complex
Naguib Mahfouz (1911-2006), the Nobel Laureate who is considered the pioneer of the novel-writing literary art in the Arab world with more than 50 novels and collections of short stories to his name, who was able “... to encompass a vast variety of characters, people described as soon as they appear, tending to leave lasting impressions on readers. They turn up and disappear, leaving traces and clues, but remain enigmatic and ambiguous. They are figures in a greater story, or pieces in a puzzle, that is the œuvre of Mahfouz. Their lives are texts, continually being written and rewritten, as is Egyptian history. Their appearance changes as the context alters with time and setting. Likewise, their meaning and purpose depend upon viewpoint and perspective, and there are many layers of interpretation, from the gross to the subtle and inexpressible and more.”
In Kuwait, the complex art of novel-writing, novellas and short stories have long been embedded in this peace-loving nation witnessing the birth of the first novel entitled “Mneira” by Khalid Al-Faraj; other Kuwaiti writers such as Fahad Al-Dwairi, Fadhel Khalaf, Farhan Rashed Al-Farhan are some of the writers who have written in this genre. One of the short story- and novel-writing Kuwaiti writers who is one of the pioneers in this field and whose name is engraved in the history of fiction writing in Kuwait is Laila Abdullah abdul-Latif al-Othman. She was born in 1945 in Murqab area in Kuwait in a household fond of literature. Her father wrote an anthology entitled “Diwan al-Othman” or “Al-Othman Anthology.” She persevered in educating herself tirelessly expanding her scope of learning in literature when she was at school.
She started to write in the local newspapers in the mid-sixties. Her themes comprised of a variety of areas including literary and social issues among others. Her stories have been translated into many languages including English, Russian, German, Chinese and others. Some of her works have been adapted for television. Al-Othman wrote many stories and collections of short stories which are considered by scholars and writers as invaluable additions to modern Arabic literature depicting society in Kuwait over many decades of the last century on many levels.

Collection
Some of the titles of her works are “I’mraa’ fi Ina’” meaning “A Woman in an Urn,” a collection of short stories published in 1986, “Al-Raheel” meaning “The Departure,” another collection of short stories published in 1979, “Al-Mar’a wal Qitta” meaning “The Woman and the Cat” published in 1985, “Fathieh Takhtar Mawtaha,” meaning “Fathieh Chooses her Demise,” a collection of short stories published in 1987 are just few. Her collection of short stories entitled “Khamsat was Khamsoun Hikayat Qaseera” meaning “55 Short Tales” is a veritable world of wonder: a panoramic and eclectic world of tales depicted from all nooks and crannies in life. An interesting read of what life is all about recounted by an adept raconteur in full control of her language and who has a profound understanding of her protagonists. The over 230-paged collection of short stories, the interesting page-turning reading experience, keeps the reader anxiously awaiting the following event involving the characters’ lives or the mishaps they go through: never boring or complacent flowing in Arabic prose of special nature comprising of succinct sentences, quick-paced but most of all candid and believable.
It shows the beautiful and ugly faces of life and their impact on the protagonists most sincerely and candidly. Some of the titles in this intriguing collection are “The Peacock,” “The Grand Illusion,” “Lost Motherhood,” “Lady of the House,” “Return my Childhood,” “Claws of Wolves,” “A Fence of Illusion,” “The Bitterness of Revenge,” “The End of Waiting and “The Triumph” are few selected titles out of the 55 tales.
During an enlightening chat with the writer Laila al-Othman at the Library of the Kuwaiti Writers’ League in Udailiyah, she shared with me her early fondness of heeding tales recounted by her elders at her house, or what Kuwaitis call “hazawi” or bed-time children tales recounted by mothers or grandmothers to their children in order to put them to sleep.

Memories
She added with a zealous and shining face evoking memories from her childhood “The wide and diverse scope of imagination incorporated in those hazawi (bed-time children tales) had fueled my imagination with limitless and wondrous fodder for my fiction afterwards, those were great and unforgettable times in my life.” Laila al-Othman is truly a talented and prolific writer of exceptional literary talent, her vast literary contribution to modern Arabic literature depicting life in old Kuwait and other settings unfolding social conflicts and dilemmas men and women encounter in their lives told with candid and forceful voices.
When asked about her most favourites from her diverse literary oeuvre she replied humbly “All are but in particular ‘Wasmieh Emerging from the Sea’ and ‘The Woman and the Cat’ are perhaps the dearest to my heart.” On the latter tale, the renowned late scholar Dr Ali al-Rae’ wrote about it by saying that “This is a social story (“The Woman and the Cat”), an extremely sincere characteristic tale depicting its true setting, portraying partiality to victims of social oppression.
It has transcended mere photographic recording to reach artistic handling through forceful and vivid language, elating at many instances to poetic images, such as the scene between Salem and Hessa. The narrative flows lucidly, the literary techniques are simple and easy to grasp without neglecting any of the dimensions the novelist (Al-Othman) intends it to attain.”
P.S. I would like to thank the writer Laila al-Othman for sharing with me her thoughts about her burgeoning writing talent, her life and her literary works, and am also indebted to Laila M. Saleh for her book comprising of many comprehensive biographies about distinguished
Kuwaiti authors, poets and historians who have truly enriched the contemporary Arabic literature with captivating and unforgettable literary works and also the assistance of the Head Librarian at the Kuwaiti Writers’ League in Udailiyah area in Kuwait Muhammad Abdullah.