Books in the Middle East Literature In Translation series

Hadiya Hussein's poignant 2017 novel plunges readers into a haunting and powerful story of resilience. Set at the end of Saddam Hussein's brutal reign, the novel follows Narjis, a young Iraqi woman, on her quest to discover what has become of the man she loves. Yusef, suspected by the regime of being a dissident, has disappeared-presumably either imprisoned or executed. On her journey, Narjis receives shelter from a Kurdish family who welcome her into their home where she meets Umm Hani, an older woman who is searching for her long-lost son. Together they form a bond, and Narjis comes to understand the depth of loss and grief of those around her. At the same time, she is introduced to the warm hospitality of the Kurdish community, settling into their everyday lives, and embracing their customs. Barbara Romaine's translation skillfully renders this complex, layered story, giving readers a stark yet beautiful portrait of contemporary Iraq.

Shahrokh Meskoob was one of Iran's leading intellectuals and a preeminent scholar of Persian literary traditions, language, and cultural identity. In The Ant's Gift, Meskoob applies his insight and considerable analytical skills to the Shahnameh, the national epic of Iran completed in 1010 by the poet Abul-Qusem Ferdowsi.

Vividly captures the experiences of prominent Indian intellectual and scholar Shibli- Nu'ma-ni- (1857-1914) as he journeyed across the Ottoman Empire and Egypt in 1892. A professor of Arabic and Persian, Nu'ma-ni- took a six-month leave from teaching to travel to the Ottoman Empire in search of rare printed works and manuscripts.

Nostalgically commemorates the lost culture of an ancient Iraqi Jewish minority living amidst a majority Muslim population in 1940s Baghdad. The plot unfolds during a time of great turmoil and events profoundly affected Muslim-Jewish relationships.

Ahmet Midhat Efendi's famous 1875 novel Felatun Bey and Rakim Efendi takes place in late nineteenth-century Istanbul and follows the lives of two young men who come from radically different backgrounds. The novel provides readers with an elegant yet powerful appeal for progressive reforms and individual freedoms.

This tender memoir chronicles the early years of Sayyid Qutb, one of Egypt's most influential radical Islamist thinkers and a member of the Muslim Brotherhood.

The Muslim Suicide focuses on the life of an actual historical character, Ibn Sabin (1217-69), who, born in the town of Murcia in Andalus (Arab Spain), ended his life while on pilgrimage to Mecca.

These folktales have been collected from Teuan, Al-Huceima, Taza, Fes, Marrakesh and Tahanout. Varied genres include anecdotes, legends and animal fables.

A novel of quixotic adolescent longing and the enduring search for self.

A novel of life in the mixed culture that existed in Southern Spain before the expulsion of Arabs and Jews, following the life of Abu Jaafar, the bookbinder, and his family as they witness Christopher Columbus' triumphant parade through the streets.

The earliest Turkish verses, dating from the sixth century A.D., were love lyrics. Since then love has dominated the Turks' poetic modes and moods - pre-Islamic, Ottoman classic, folk, modern. In style, form and sensibility, this collection offers a broad spectrum.

It has been said that the difference between a language and a dialect is that a language is a dialect with an army. This title explores the tension between dynamics of literary influence and canon formation within the Arabic literary tradition. It challenges the reader to re-examine notions of translation, bilingualism, and postcoloniality.