Modern Arabic Fiction


Book Description

"Jayyusi provides biographical information on the writers as well as a substantial introduction to the development of modern Arabic fictional genres that considers the central thematic and aesthetic concerns of Arab short story writers and novelists."--Jacket.




Literature Of Modern Arabia


Book Description

First published in 1988. This large and authoritative volume offers, for the first time, a representative selection of the works of ninety-five of Arabia’s best creative authors. It presents poetry, drama and short stories from Saudi Arabia, Yemen and the rest of the Gulf states.




Anthology of Modern Palestinian Literature


Book Description

This comprehensive anthology traces the written record of a people beset by nearly a century of conflict, exile, and dispersal. This collection includes poetry, fiction, and personal narratives by both establishing and rising Palestinian creative writers of the modern period.




Life on Hold


Book Description

Saudi writer Fahd al-Atiq explores modern Riyadh through the character of Khaled, whose dysfunctional life, humdrum but rich in memories and introspection, bridges the gap between the old impoverished world of Najd and the consumerism of the years after the various oil booms, symbolized in this novel by the family's move from the lively back streets of the old city to an isolated dream villa in the new suburbs.




A Matter of Fate


Book Description

Cohen-Mor examines the concept of fate in the Arab world through readings of religious texts, poetry, fiction, and folklore. Offering 16 modern short stories as illustrations of her analysis, she contends that belief in fate continues to play a pivotal role in the Arabs' outlook on life and society.




Modern Arabic Drama


Book Description

Translations of 12 Arabic plays written and produced during the past thirty years.




Munira's Bottle


Book Description

In Riyadh, against the events of the second Gulf War and Saddam's invasion of Kuwait, we learn the story of Munira--with the gorgeous eyes--and the unspeakable tragedy she suffers as her male nemesis wreaks revenge for an insult to his character and manhood. It is also the tale of many other women of Saudi Arabia who pass through the remand center where Munira works, victims and perpetrators of crimes, characters pained and tormented, trapped in cocoons of silence and fear. Munira records their stories on pieces of paper that she folds up and places in the mysterious bottle given to her long ago by her grandmother, a repository for the stories of the dead, that they might live again. This controversial novel looks at many of the issues that characterize the lives of women in modern Saudi society, including magic and envy, honor and revenge, and the strict moral code that dictates male-female interaction. "Yousef al-Mohaimeed is a rising star in international literature. Munira's Bottle is a rich and skillfully crafted story of a dysfunctional Saudi Arabian family. One of its strengths lies in its edgy characters: Munira, a sultry, self-centered, sexually repressed woman; Ibn al-Dahhal, the bold imposter who deceives and betrays her; and Muhammad, her perpetually angry and righteous brother, a catalyst who forces the events. Western readers will welcome it for its opening door into Arab lives and minds."--Annie Proulx "Mohaimeed writes in a lush style that evokes a writer he cites as an influence, Gabriel Garcia Marquez. [He] takes on some of the most divisive subjects in the Arab world."--Washington Post




Trials of Arab Modernity


Book Description

Challenging prevalent conceptualizations of modernity—which treat it either as a Western ideology imposed by colonialism or as a universal narrative of progress and innovation—this study instead offers close readings of the simultaneous performances and contestations of modernity staged in works by authors such as Rifa’a al-Tahtawi, Ahmad Faris al-Shidyaq, Tayeb Salih, Hanan al-Shaykh, Hamdi Abu Golayyel, and Ahmad Alaidy. In dialogue with affect theory, deconstruction, and psychoanalysis, the book reveals these trials to be a violent and ongoing confrontation with and within modernity. In pointed and witty prose, El-Ariss bridges the gap between Nahda (the so-called Arab project of Enlightenment) and postcolonial and postmodern fiction.




Modern Saudi Arabia


Book Description

This thematic encyclopedia examines contemporary and historical Saudi Arabia, with entries that fall under such themes as geography, history, government and politics, religion and thought, food, etiquette, media, and much more. The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, known for its petroleum reserves and leadership role in the Middle East, is explored in this latest addition to the Understanding Modern Nations series. Organized into thematic chapters, Modern Saudi Arabia covers both history and contemporary daily life. Chapter topics include: Geography; History; Government and Politics; Economy; Religion and Thought; Social Classes and Ethnicity; Gender, Marriage, and Sexuality; Education; Language; Etiquette; Literature and Drama; Art and Architecture; Music and Dance; Food; Leisure and Sports; and Media and Popular Culture. Each chapter contains an overview of the topic and alphabetized entries on examples of each theme. A detailed historical timeline spans from prehistoric times to the present. Special appendices are also included, offering profiles of a typical day in the life of representative members of Saudi society, a glossary, key facts and figures about Saudi Arabia, and a holiday chart. This volume will be useful for readers looking for specific topical information and for those who want to read entire chapters to gain a deeper perspective on aspects of modern Saudi Arabia.




Advanced Arabic Literary Reader


Book Description

Advanced Arabic Literary Reader is a truly representative collection of literary extracts from across the Arabic-speaking world. Extracts from each country in the Arab world have been carefully selected, with a balance of both male and female writers and prominent and emerging voices, providing a unique window into the Arab world. Suitable for both class use and independent study, each extract is supported by an introduction to the author, pre-reading activities, comprehension questions and discussion questions. These activities are designed to help learners expand and reinforce their vocabulary, develop their oral and written proficiency and stimulate further exploration of the cultural and historical background of the texts. Written entirely in Arabic, the Advanced Arabic Literary Reader is an essential text for advanced students who wish to further their reading, speaking, and writing ability in Modern Standard Arabic. Free audio recordings of the extracts are available online at www.routledge.com/books/details/9781138828698/ to enable students to improve listening skills.