Scheherazade's Legacy: Arab and Arab American Women on Writing

(Hardback)

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In a time when it seems that the gap of understanding between the West and the Middle East continues to widen, Scheherazade's Legacy builds a bridge between the two cultures. Collected here are the voices of those who define the genre of Arab writing in English - literature that describes the cultural experiences of those with Arab identities living, and often writing, in the West. Contributions from such writers as Naomi Shihab Nye, Diana Abu-Jaber, Suheir Hammad, Etal Adnan, Elmaz Abinader, and others, explore the complexities of writing in and for a culture not entirely their own. The essays here, complemented by selections, mostly original, of each author's work, promise to be a cornerstone in the study of writing by women writers of Arab descent who find themselves between two cultures, two worlds that are often at odds. With a foreword by Barbara Nimri Aziz, journalist and founder of RAWI (Radius of Arab-American Writers), this collection is one of the first books to assemble the voices of women writers of Arab descent on the subject of writing itself. Contributors consider the difficulties, obstacles, joys, failures and successes of writing from an Arab perspective but largely for western audiences. They consider aspects of identity, family, politics, memory and other crucial cultural issues that impact them personally and professionally as writers.

Reviews

"An elegant introduction for beginning readers of Arab and Arab-American literature, a keepsake for the more seasoned."-Lisa Adwan, Editor, Mizna
"Darraj has assembled a remarkable set of reflections on writing by women of Arab descent. Reflecting on their own experiences, the authors offer insight and inspiration across generations and cultures. The samplings of their poetry and prose side by side with their reflections invite students, scholars and general readers to a rich immersion in the emergent field of Arab and Arab-American women writers."-Suad Joseph, Professor of Anthropology and Women and Gender Studies University of California, Davis
"This is a powerful collection of today's Arab American women, as well as an important contribution to American literature. Susan Muaddi Darraj's authors weave a cohesive sisterhood and ultimately offer insightful essays, stories, and poems that are a pleasure to read and will make you hungry for more."-Laila Halaby, author of West of the Jordan
"What a pleasure to be in the company of these talented women. To hear them tell how they found their 'home address' as poets or spinners of fiction. And then to read the work, itself.... We listen to these voices, and we think 'something new.' American literature once again re-arranging itself, widening the circle."-Evelyn Shakir, author of Bint Arab (Praeger, 1997)
Undergraduates studying women's writing and Middle Eastern literature.-Choice
"Undergraduates studying women's writing and Middle Eastern literature."-Choice

Author Bio

Susan Muaddi Darraj is a teacher and freelance writer. Her articles, essays, and fiction have appeared in various publications and anthologies including Catching a Wave: Reclaiming Feminism for the 21st Century and Colonize This: Young Women of Color on Feminism.