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Favorite Book Markets
Here’s a shout-out to all my favorite book dealers… مدبولي Madbouli Bookshop 6 Talaat Harb Sq. – Cairo, Egypt الأزبكية Al-Azbakeyah open market for used books – Cairo, Egypt ديوان Diwan bookstores – Cairo, Egypt دار الشروق Dar El Shorouk 1 Talaat Harb Sq. – Cairo, Egypt دار الهلال Dar El Hilal 16 Mohamed Ezz El Arab St. – Cairo, Egypt…
Literature
My academic training is in Arabic literature. By literature, I don’t mean written materials alone. I mean instead the manipulation of language in all of its various forms (whether stories, poems, rhymes, etc.) to reach an audience–expressing feelings, communicating experiences, asking questions, offering advice, and so on. When I first studied in Morocco, I had to…
A Tribute to Radwa Ashour, Heroes, and Impermanence
Two days ago, Radwa Ashour passed away. Ashour is my all-time favorite writer of Arabic literature. I discovered her through her trilogy, ثلالية غرناطة / Granada (currently only part 1 of 3 has been translated into English). I was a student in Cairo, and I chose to write my final paper (in Arabic) on this…
Tribute to Reem Bassiouney’s Historical Fiction
From the first time we worked together (on the translation of her novel Ashiyaʾ raʾiʿa / Wonderful Things, published in English as Mortal Designs, AUC Press 2016), Reem Bassiouney and I have maintained a shared understanding of the role of literature in society; the role of creativity in an individual’s life; and the role of…
Spoken Word
Have you ever heard a poem performed live in such a way that it captured your whole attention? There are tons of amazing poetry performances in Arabic, both spoken and sung. Al-Ta’shira This is my all-time favorite spoken poem performance. Sorry, I don’t have time to translate it now…maybe later! The poet is Hesham El…
Jews in the Arab World
Here are some sources that I can recommend that relate to Jews in the Arab World: Medieval Middle East Norman Stillman’s source book is excellent, especially for those seeking an overview of the earliest records regarding Jews and the spread of Arabic culture (from the 7th to 19th century). It gives access to primary sources…