Arabic Disclosures: The Postcolonial Autobiographical Atlas

Arabic Disclosures is a book that explores the genre of autobiography in modern Arabic literary writing from the early 1920s to the present. It applies a set of characteristics and approaches culled from theoretical studies of the genre to a particular set of autobiographical works, selected for their different methodologies, historical contexts, and authors' lives. The book begins with the earliest modern example of autobiographical work and studies the major pioneers in the development of modern Arabic thought and literary expression. It also examines the autobiographies of women and fiction writers and draws a map of Arab thought and culture in its multiple engagements with other cultures.

Format: Hardback
Length: 520 pages
Publication date: 22 June 2022
Publisher: University of Notre Dame Press

Arabic Disclosures is a comprehensive exploration of Arabic postcolonial autobiographical writing, presented by Muhsin J. al-Musawi. The book delves into the genre of autobiography within the modern tradition of Arabic literary writing, spanning from the early 1920s to the present. In the introduction, al-Musawi clarifies that the purpose of this work is not to provide a comprehensive survey of all autobiographical writing in modern Arabic but rather to apply a meticulously selected set of characteristics and approaches derived from various theoretical studies of the genre to a specific selection of autobiographical works in Arabic. These works were chosen based on their diverse methodologies, varying historical contexts in which they were conceived and written, and the diverse lives experienced by the authors involved.

The book begins by situating itself within the broader context of autobiographical space, where the theories of Bourdieu, Bachelard, Bakhtin, and Lefebvre are laid out. It then examines the profound impact of a postcolonial awareness of space on the writings of numerous authors whose works are scrutinized. The book is organized chronologically, beginning with the earliest modern example of autobiographical work found in Ṭāhā Ḥusayn's book, translated into English as The Stream of Days. Al-Musawi delves into the studies of some of the major pioneers in the development of modern Arabic thought and literary expression, including Jurjī Zaydān, Mīkḫāˀīl Nuˁaymah, Aḥmad Amīn, Salāmah Mūsā, Sayyid Quṭb, and untranslated works by the prominent critic and scholar Ḥammādī Ṣammūd, the novelist ʿĀliah Mamdūḥ, and others. He also examines the autobiographies of a number of women, including Nawāl al-Saʿdāwī and Fadwā Ṭūqān, as well as fiction writers.

Through its extensive engagements with other cultures and traditions, Arabic Disclosures offers a rich tapestry of Arab thought and culture. The book explores the ways in which the authors navigate the complexities of identity, history, and cultural displacement, employing various autobiographical techniques to convey their experiences and perspectives. It sheds light on the role of literature in shaping the collective memory and understanding of the Arab world, highlighting the ways in which autobiographical writing contributes to the preservation and transmission of cultural heritage.

In conclusion, Arabic Disclosures is a groundbreaking work that provides a comprehensive analysis of Arabic postcolonial autobiographical writing. Through its meticulous exploration of the genre, al-Musawi offers valuable insights into the complexities of identity, history, and cultural displacement experienced by Arab authors. The book's rich tapestry of engagements with other cultures and traditions sheds light on the role of literature in shaping the collective memory and understanding of the Arab world. It is a must-read for scholars, students, and anyone interested in exploring the rich and diverse world of Arabic literature and culture.

Dimension: 229 x 152 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780268201647