Tracing the Ether - (Middle East Literature in Translation) by Moneera Al-Ghadeer (Hardcover)

Book Synopsis

An expansive bilingual anthology, Tracing the Ether showcases twenty-six acclaimed Saudi poets who are reimagining their place in our interconnected, digital world. Breaking away from the traditional focus on pre-Islamic Arabian poetry, this collection presents sixty-two contemporary poems that engage boldly with modernity, cyberspace, and globalization. These award-winning poets employ innovative forms and speculative frameworks to explore how social media and digital culture are reshaping notions of home, identity, and cultural boundaries. Their work demonstrates that far from merely imitating Western models, Saudi poets are crafting distinctive voices that speak to universal human experiences while remaining grounded in their cultural context.

This essential volume fills a crucial gap in both scholarly literature and classroom resources, making contemporary Saudi poetry accessible to English-language readers. Tracing the Ether will prove invaluable to scholars and students of Middle Eastern studies, Arabic literature, comparative literature, and translation studies, as well as anyone interested in understanding Saudi Arabia's contemporary cultural landscape. By bringing these important poetic voices to a global audience, this anthology contributes to a richer, more nuanced understanding of modern Arabic literature and its place in world literature.

Review Quotes

This expertly curated collection charts an enlightening journey on every page. A testament to the power of the written word, the poems transit formally across generations and transitionally between Arabic and English. The fusion of pop culture, technology, and global perspectives provides a visionary and forward-looking path for Arabic poetry.-- "Michael Allen, author of In the Shadow of World Literature"

This is a fantastic and much-needed translation of Arabic poetry.-- "Tarek El-Ariss, author of Water on Fire: A Memoir of War"

This stunning anthology of contemporary millennial poetry from Saudi Arabia breaks open for an English-speaking public a remarkably vibrant, fresh, and worldly literary universe.-- "Lila Abu-Lughod, author of Veiled Sentiments: Honor and Poetry in a Bedouin Society"

About the Author

Moneera Al-Ghadeer holds the UNESCO chair in translating cultures at the King Faisal Center for Research and Islamic Studies in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. She was a visiting professor in the Department of Middle Eastern, South Asian, and African Studies at Columbia University and a Shawwaf Visiting Professor at Harvard University.