Studying Modern Arabic Literature - by Roger Allen & Robin Ostle (Paperback)

About the Book

Shows how the study of modern Arabic literature was transformed by Mustafa Badawi.

Book Synopsis

Prior to the 1960s the study of Arabic literature, both classical and modern, had barely been emancipated from the academic approaches of Orientalism. The appointment of Mustafa Badawi as Oxford University's first Lecturer in Modern Arabic Literature changed the face of this subject. Badawi's teaching and research showed that Arabic literature was making vibrant contributions to global culture and thought. Part biography, part collection of critical essays, this volume celebrates Badawi's immense contribution to the field and explores his role as a public intellectual in the Arab world and the west.

Review Quotes

This volume showcases the personal, human side of Badawi as a mentor and teacher and shows how, through practical applications of his critical principles, Badawi's methods and conclusions have informed the study of Arabic literature. The result is a collection that traces not only the contributions of Badawi to his field but also the new appreciation of modern Arabic literature in the west that he helped to foster.-- "Terri DeYoung, University of Washington"