Beirut39: new writing from the Arab world.

'Beirut39' is a Hay Festival project which aims to select and celebrate 39 of the best young Arab writers as a centrepiece of the Beirut World Capital festivities in April 2010.

Following the successful launch of 'Bogot' 39', which identified many of the most interesting upcoming Latin American talents, including Wendy Guerra, Junot Diaz (Pulitzer Prize), Santiago Roncagliolo and Juan Gabriel V'squez (short-listed for the IFFP), 'Beirut 39' will bring to worldwide attention the best work from the Arab world.

The judges will select from more than 300 submissions and the writers' names will be unveiled in September 2009.

The book will be published in English and in Arabic editions throughout the world by Bloomsbury.