Arabian Satire: Poetry from 18th-Century Najd (Library of Arabic Literature Book 62)

**Satirical verse on society and its hypocrisies** A master of satire known for his ribald humor, self-deprecation, and invective verse (__hijāʾ__), the poet Ḥmēdān al-Shwēʿir was an acerbic critic of his society and its morals. Living in the Najd region of the Arabian Peninsula, Ḥmēdān wrote in an idiom widely referred to as “Nabaṭī,” here a mix of Najdī vernacular and archaic vocabulary and images dating to the origins of Arabic poetry. In __Arabian Satire__, Ḥmēdān is mostly concerned with worldly matters and addresses these in different guises: as the patriarch at the helm of the family boat and its unruly crew; as a picaresque anti-hero who revels in taking potshots at the established order, its hypocrisy, and its failings; as a peasant who labors over his palm trees, often to no avail and with no guarantee of success; and as a poet recording in verse how he thinks things ought to be. The poems in __Arabian Satire__ reveal a plucky, headstrong, yet intensely socially committed figure—representative of the traditional Najdī ethos—who infuses his verse with proverbs, maxims, and words of wisdom expressed plainly and conversationally. Ḥmēdān is widely quoted by historians of the Gulf region and in anthologies of popular sayings. This is the first full translation of this remarkable poet.

Satirical verse on society and itshypocrisies A master of satire known for his ribald humor, self-deprecation,and invective verse (hijāʾ), the poet Ḥmēdān al-Shwēʿirwas an acerbic critic of his society and its morals. Living in theNajd region of the Arabian Peninsula, Ḥmēdān wrote in an idiomwidely referred to as "Nabaṭī," here a mix of Najdī vernacular andarchaic vocabulary and images dating to the origins of Arabicpoetry. In Arabian Satire, Ḥmēdān is mostly concerned withworldly matters and addresses these in different guises: as thepatriarch at the helm of the family boat and its unruly crew; as apicaresque anti-hero who revels in taking potshots at theestablished order, its hypocrisy, and its failings; as a peasantwho labors over his palm trees, often to no avail and with noguarantee of success; and as a poet recording in verse how hethinks things ought to be. The poems in Arabian Satire reveal a plucky, headstrong,yet intensely socially committed figure-representative of thetraditional Najdī ethos-who infuses his verse with proverbs,maxims, and words of wisdom expressed plainly and conversationally.Ḥmēdān is widely quoted by historians of the Gulf region and inanthologies of popular sayings. This is the first full translationof this remarkable poet. An English-only edition.

Satirical verse on society and its hypocrisies A master of satire known for his ribald humor, self-deprecation, and invective verse ( hijāʾ ), the poet Ḥmēdān al-Shwēʿir was an acerbic critic of his society and its morals. Living in the Najd region of the Arabian Peninsula, Ḥmēdān wrote in an idiom widely referred to as "Nabaṭī," here a mix of Najdī vernacular and archaic vocabulary and images dating to the origins of Arabic poetry. In Arabian Satire , Ḥmēdān is mostly concerned with worldly matters and addresses these in different guises: as the patriarch at the helm of the family boat and its unruly crew; as a picaresque anti-hero who revels in taking potshots at the established order, its hypocrisy, and its failings; as a peasant who labors over his palm trees, often to no avail and with no guarantee of success; and as a poet recording in verse how he thinks things ought to be. The poems in Arabian Satire reveal a plucky, headstrong, yet intensely socially committed figure—representative of the traditional Najdī ethos—who infuses his verse with proverbs, maxims, and words of wisdom expressed plainly and conversationally. Ḥmēdān is widely quoted by historians of the Gulf region and in anthologies of popular sayings. This is the first full translation of this remarkable poet. An English-only edition. "A master of satire known for his ribald humor, self-deprecation, and invective verse (hijāʼ), the poet Ḥmēdān al-Shwē'ir was an acerbic critic of his society and its morals. Living in the Najd region of the Arabian Peninsula, Ḥmēdān wrote in an idiom widely referred to as "Nabaṭī," here a mix of Najdīvernacular and archaic vocabulary and images dating to the origins of Arabic poetry. In Arabian Satire, Ḥmēdān is mostly concerned with worldly matters and addresses these in different guises: as the patriarch at the helm of the family boat and its unruly crew; as a picaresque anti-hero who revels in taking potshots at the established order, its hypocrisy, and its failings; as a peasant who labors over his palm trees, often to no avail and with no guarantee of success; and as a poet recording in verse how he thinks things ought to be. The poems in Arabian Satire reveal a plucky, headstrong, yet intensely socially committed figure-representative of the traditional Najdīethos-who infuses his verse with proverbs, maxims, and words of wisdom expressed plainly and conversationally. Ḥmēdān is widely quoted by historians of the Gulf region and in anthologies of popular sayings. This is the first full translation of this remarkable poet"-- Provided by publisher