Available now!

The Man of Middling Height

What if our society’s deepest prejudices weren’t about race, gender, or sexuality—but height? In his groundbreaking allegorical novel, acclaimed Jordanian author and activist Fadi Zaghmout imagines just such a world, crafting a powerful meditation on discrimination and desire that speaks directly to our contemporary debates about identity and inclusion. Learn more.

The Man of Middling Height Now Available
Published by Syracuse University Press
أنوار سهيلي، 1847، من متحف والترز للفنون

قصّة قصيرة

ويبقى الحال على ما هو عليه

تصارح إيناس أمها بميولها الجنسية، وعلى الرغم من رد الفعل المتوقع، تشعر بالإحباط بسبب ما حدث، لكنها تتفاعل مع الوضع الجديد بطريقة غير معتادة.

نشرت في المركز ريفيو سبتمبر ٢٠٢٦

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About me

Jordanian author born in Amman in 1978. I hold a Master’s degree in Creative Writing and Critical Thinking from University of Sussex. I have published six novels, bringing my total number of books, including translations, to fourteen. Among my most notable works are The Bride of Amman, Eternal Youth Trilogy, and The Man of Middling Height, all of which have ranked among the bestselling books in Amman. My works have been translated into English, French, and Italian. I have also participated in major international literary festivals, including the Emirates Airline Festival of Literature, Les Utopiales, and the Toronto International Festival of Authors. In 2024, I received the Study UK Alumni Awards in recognition of my social impact in the United Arab Emirates.

كاتبٌ أردني من مواليد عمّان عام ١٩٧٨. أحمل درجة الماجستير في الكتابة الإبداعية والتفكير النقدي من جامعة ساسكس. صدر لي ستّ روايات، ليبلغ مجموع إصداراتي، بما في ذلك الترجمات، أربعة عشر كتابًا. من أبرز أعمالي: عروس عمّان، وجنة على الأرض، وإبرة وكشتبان، وقد تصدّرت قوائم الكتب الأكثر مبيعًا في عمّان. تُرجمت أعمالي إلى اللغات الإنجليزية والفرنسية والإيطالية. شاركتُ في عدد من المهرجانات والفعاليات الأدبية العالمية، من بينها مهرجان طيران الإمارات للآداب، ويوتوبيال، ومهرجان الكتّاب الدولي في تورونتو. وفي عام ٢٠٢٤، نلتُ جائزة خريجي المملكة المتحدة ضمن فئة التأثير الاجتماعي في دولة الإمارات العربية المتحدة.

Selected Reviews from Goodreads

Rating: 4 out of 5.

“Loved it. The book talks about the pressure and image that Arab women are often forced to represent. It gives a good glimpse into the reality of the many challenges that Arab women face. The author did a wonderful job of describing these challenges and just what is at risk when women go against what is expected of them. I really enjoyed the book. It was a quick and short read into the reality of Arab women.”

Mana
Review for Laila

Rating: 5 out of 5.

“A thought-provoking look at a society that has eliminated aging. It’s in the 2090’s in Amman, Jordan. A golden pill can now stop or reverse the sign of aging. In this advanced society of bio and nano tech society now has to grapple with the moral implications of never being able to age and if allowing people to forge the pill and die naturally, is suicide and should be illegal. No one is allowed to have children to control population growth so as one passes their family inherits the right to birth a child and must decide who is bequeathed that honor. There’s reality TV that tracks impoverished people who reverse age back to their first day of life, the winner is granted millions to restart their life with a golden spoon in their mouths. People can now use their parents genetic material and clone their parents, carry them and raise them as their children. What does all this mean for family life and marriage and what kind of dreams can you have when you live forever?

Written by a controversial Jordanian author, this Arabic sci-fi tackles subjects like sharia law and how it’s applied in Jordan, freedom of choice with your body and an individuals obligation to society.”

Ellie
Review for Heaven on Earth

Rating: 4 out of 5.

“A touching tribute to being a woman and being queer in the Middle East, specifically in Jordan. Loved every POV character and I really felt for all of them as they are going through their specific trials. One of the best books in translation I’ve read.”

Katie Bjornholt
Review for The Bride of Amman

Rating: 5 out of 5.

“An imaginary world where human societies are divided by height rather than gender! Fadi used symbolism to convey complex ideas without using a ton of words, very thought-provoking and engaging. Fadi’s ingenuity in making us feel deeply for his characters while tackling such a taboo issue for lots of people in our society. But nothing equals that aha moment when you connect the dots… Fadi’s imagination goes way and beyond that he even created a whole new language for this imaginary world of his. Highly recommended”

Hani Yakan
Review for Ibra wa Kushtuban

Contact me

For speaking opportunities or translation rights for any of my books, email me fadizaghmout@yahoo.com

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