DUBAI: The International Prize for Arabic Fiction shortlist was announced on Tuesday night, with these six books set to compete for the top prize. ‘The Outcast’ Iraqi native Inaam Kachachi based the book on a true story that spans the history of modern Iraq. The book revolves around Taj Al-Muluk, a journalist and female owner of the first magazine in Iraq. ‘The Night Mail’ Lebanese author Hoda Barakat tells the stories of letter writers in her book. The writers’ fates are intertwined. ‘The Commandments’ Written by Egyptian author Adel Esmat, the novel follows the Dar Selim family in Egypt through several generations starting in the 1920s until the 1970s. ‘Summer with the Enemy’ A novel by Syrian author Shahla Ujayli tells the story of a young girl who flees her country due to war and goes to the city of Cologne in Germany. ‘Cold White Sun’ Jordanian Kafa Al-Zoubi tells the story of a young Jordanian man who is an impoverished teacher alienated from society. ‘What Sin Caused her to Die’ Moroccan author Mohammed Al-Maazuz writes of a return to philosophy, goodness and beauty in the fight against ugly distortions of human nature. The main character endures difficult times, but is determined to remain hopeful.