Spanning 7,000 years, from the pre-Islamic to the Andalusian periods, Classical Poems by Arab Women presents rarely seen work by over 50 female writers for the first time. From the sorrowful eulogies of Khansa to the gleeful scorn of Wallada bint al-Mustakfi, this collection exclusively features the work of Arab women who boldly refused to be silenced. The poems are excursions into their vibrant world whose humanity has been suppressed for centuries by religious and political bigotry.
With poems in both English and Arabic, this remarkable anthology celebrates feminine wit and desire and shows the significant contribution Arab women made to the literary tradition.
About the Editor
Literary historian, poet and storyteller Abdullah al-Udhari studied classical Arab literature and Sabaean epigraphy at London University, where he also received a doctorate for his pioneering study, Jahili Poetry before Imru al-Qais [4000 BCE—500 CE], establishing him as an authority on early Jahili literature. Al-Udhari is also Founder and Editor of TR, an Anglo-Arab literary and arts magazine.
About the Publisher
Saqi Books is a leading independent publisher of trade and academic books on the Middle East and North Africa with two imprints: Westbourne Press is committed to releasing engaging works that offer an alternative, progressive perspective on the leading issues of our time, and Telegram publishes new and classic international writing.