A Jordanian poet and novelist, he currently works in the aeronautical engineering sector. He published poetry, short stories, essays about places, criticism and thought, before turning to writing fiction. He has worked for a number of years in Jordanian journalism, and played leadership roles in several cultural commissions and magazines. He founded and has served as the head of the Jordanian Narrative Laboratory. Barjas hosts a cultural radio program titled House of Fiction, and heads the editorial board of the Sawt al-Jeel magazine, a publication of the Jordanian Ministry of Culture. 

Several doctorates, master’s theses and peer-reviewed research papers have been produced about his publications, and there is a body of numerous works that describe his writing experience. Barjas was honored in a number of Jordanian and Arab cultural forums, and has been selected as jury member for several Jordanian and Arab awards.

Selected published works:

Fiction:

Miqsalat Alhalim (2013), Afa’ai Annar (2016), Sayyidat Alhawas Alkhams (2017), Tales of the Old Café (various authors, 2019), The Bookseller’s Notebooks (2020), and Nashij Alduduk (2023)

Collections of poetry:

K’ay Ghusn ala Shajara (2008), and Qamar bela Manazil (2011)

Short story collection:

The Earthquake (2012)

Literature of place:

Shbabik Madaba Tahris Al-Quds (2017)

Awards:

His novel The Bookseller’s Notebooks won the International Prize for Arab Fiction in 2021. His short story collection The Earthquake won the Ruks bin Zaid Al-Azizi Award for Creativity in 2012. Barjas won the Rifqah Dudin Award for Creativity in Narrative for his novel, Miqsalat Alhalim in 2013, and his novel Afa’ai Annar won the Katara Prize for Arabic Fiction in 2015. His novel Sayyidat Alhawas Alkhams was longlisted for the International Prize for Arabic Fiction in 2019. His autobiography was shortlisted for the Sheikh Zaid Book Award in 2024, and the English translation of his novel The Bookseller’s Notebooks was shortlisted for the Banipal Prize for Translated Arabic Literature in 2024. In 2023, HM King Abdulla II ibn Hussein awarded him the Order of Excellence for his cultural efforts both in Jordan and the Arab World.

Translations:

The Bookseller’s Notebooks was translated into English, Persian and Hindi.

Afa’ai Annar was translated into English, French, Persian and Hindi.

Shbabik Madaba Tahris Al-Quds was translated into seven languages.