Jamal Naji (1 November 1954 – 6 May 2018) was a novelist, short-story writer and television scriptwriter whose work explored displacement, memory and everyday life in Jordan and among Palestinians. Born in the refugee camp of Aqbat Jaber in the West Bank, he moved to Jordan with his family in 1967. Over a career spanning several decades Naji produced novels, collections of short stories and scripts for television that won him recognition in the Arabic literary world.

Life and background

Naji’s early experience as a Palestinian-born child who resettled in Jordan informed much of his fiction. As a writer who identified with both Palestinian roots and a Jordanian public life, he often drew on urban settings and the lives of ordinary people to examine themes of identity, exile and social change. He lived and worked in Amman, where he was active in literary circles and cultural institutions.

Writing career and major works

His first novel, The Road to Balharith, was published around 1981–82. Naji went on to publish several novels and short-story collections and wrote scripts for television drama. One of his best-known later books, When the Wolves Grow Old, was shortlisted for the International Prize for Arabic Fiction (often called the Arabic Booker) in 2010, bringing wider attention to his work.

Themes and style

Naji’s fiction is often described as grounded in social realism: it focuses on quotidian detail, family ties and the effects of displacement while charting the complexities of life in contemporary Arab cities. His prose balances narrative economy with empathetic character studies, and his scripts translated similar concerns to popular media, widening the audience for literary themes.

Selected works and roles

  • The Road to Balharith (first novel, 1981–82)
  • When the Wolves Grow Old (shortlisted for the Arabic Booker, 2010)
  • Collections of short stories and several television scripts

Naji also served as president of the Jordanian Writers Association from 2001 to 2003, playing a public role in promoting literature and supporting writers in Jordan.

Death and legacy

Jamal Naji died on 6 May 2018 at age 63 after suffering a stroke. His death was noted across Arabic-language cultural pages and by writers who cited his contribution to contemporary Jordanian and Arab fiction. He is remembered for his compassionate portrayals of ordinary lives and for bridging literary and popular forms.

For further context on Palestinian displacement and Jordanian literary life see sources linked here: Palestinian displacement and materials on Jordanian literature.