Middle Eastern Gothics: Literature, Spectral Modernities and the Restless Past

The first scholarly book on Gothic literature from the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) explores how the Gothic expresses ongoing literary negotiations with modernity in Arabic, Hebrew, Persian, and Turkish literary texts. It argues that the transnational region is a crucial locus of Gothic Studies, alongside the nation, the globe, or the hyper-local.

Format: Hardback
Length: 232 pages
Publication date: 15 December 2022
Publisher: University of Wales Press

Middle Eastern Gothics is a groundbreaking scholarly work that delves into the rich tapestry of Gothic literature from the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region. Spanning nine chapters, this comprehensive volume explores the diverse literary expressions of the Gothic in major Middle Eastern languages such as Arabic, Hebrew, Persian, and Turkish. With a broad geographical scope that encompasses the Maghreb, the Arabian Peninsula, Iraq, Iran, Turkey, Egypt, and Palestine, the book makes a compelling case for the transnational region as a vital hub for Gothic Studies. Alongside the nation, the globe, and the hyper-local, the MENA region emerges as a cohesive geographic space characterized by its rich cultural diversity, linguistic richness, and historical complexities.

Within this transnational realm, the Gothic emerges as a powerful tool for expressing ongoing literary negotiations with modernity. It leaves a distinctive mark on representations of globalisation, colonialism, and nationalism, shaping the ways in which these themes are interpreted and reimagined within Middle Eastern literary texts. At the same time, Middle Eastern literary works expand the boundaries of the Gothic mode on their own terms, employing local and indigenous forms, figures, and narratives to refract broad histories and cultural narratives.

One notable aspect of Middle Eastern Gothics is its exploration of the intersection between Gothic literature and the cultural and historical contexts of the MENA region. The book highlights how Gothic themes and motifs resonate with the region's complex political, social, and religious dynamics, providing a lens through which to understand the historical and cultural complexities of the region. For instance, the Gothic's fascination with the supernatural, horror, and the uncanny is often linked to the historical experiences of oppression, violence, and trauma that have plagued the MENA region throughout its history.

Furthermore, Middle Eastern Gothics sheds light on the ways in which the Gothic mode has been adapted and transformed by local writers and artists. The book showcases the rich diversity of Gothic subgenres and styles that have emerged in the MENA region, from the dark and atmospheric works of Arabic horror fiction to the feminist reinterpretations of Gothic literature in Persian and Turkish. These adaptations and transformations reflect the unique cultural and historical contexts of the region, while also contributing to the global discourse on Gothic literature.

In conclusion, Middle Eastern Gothics is a seminal work that offers a comprehensive and interdisciplinary exploration of Gothic literature from the Middle East and North Africa region. Through its nine chapters, the book provides a rich and nuanced understanding of the Gothic's literary expressions, its historical and cultural significance, and its ongoing relevance in the contemporary world. By situating the MENA region as a crucial locus of Gothic Studies, the book contributes to the growing field of transnational Gothic Studies and offers valuable insights into the complex interplay between literature, culture, and history in the global context.

Dimension: 216 x 138 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781786839282