Jokha Alharthi is the recipient of this year’s Man Booker International Prize, making her the first Arab writer to collect the honor. BBC confirmed the news. The author already made history as the first female Omani novelist to be translated into English.

Alharthi is being recognized for “Celestial Bodies,” the story of three sisters “who witness Oman’s cultural evolution from a traditional society in the post-colonial period,” the source summarizes. Described by the judges as demonstrating “delicate artistry” and “engaging and poetic insight,” the novel marks Alharthi’s fourth. Her previous three novels were in Arabic. She’s also published a children’s book and two collections of short fiction.

“I am thrilled that a window has been opened to the rich Arabic culture,” Alharthi said following the awards ceremony in London.”Oman inspired me but I think international readers can relate to the human values in the book — freedom and love.” She continued, “It touches the subject of slavery. I think literature is the best platform to have this dialogue.”

“The style is a metaphor for the subject, subtly resisting cliches of race, slavery, and gender,” added the chair of the judges, Bettany Hughes.

Alharthi completed her PhD in Classical Arabic Literature at the University of Edinburgh in Scotland.