Mahmoud Darwish: Literature and the Politics of Palestinian Identity (Written Culture and Identity Book 4)

"Mahmoud Darwish is the poet laureate of the Palestinian national struggle. His poems resonate across the entire Arab world and, more than any other single figure perhaps since the death of Yasser Arafat, he represents a unifying figurehead for Palestinian national aspirations. In this, the first comprehensive biography of Darwish in English, Muna Abu Eid examines the poet's intellectual status on two fronts - both national and public - and offers a critical assessment of Darwish's national and political life. Based on Darwish's own writings and interviews with people who worked with him and situating Darwish's poetry within the wider context of Palestinian struggles inside Israel, this book explores the influence of Darwish's life and work in the Palestinian territories and in the diaspora: from the destruction of his Galilee village and displacement of his family during the 1948 Nakba; to his return and 'infiltration' back into the homeland and the struggle for survival inside Israel; to his internal and external exiles in Haifa, Moscow, Cairo, Beirut, Tunisia, Paris and even Ramallah."--Bloomsbury Publishing.

Mahmoud Darwish is the poet laureate of the Palestinian national struggle. His poems resonate across the entire Arab world and, more than any other single figure perhaps since the death of Yasser Arafat, he represents a unifying figurehead for Palestinian national aspirations. In this, the first comprehensive biography of Darwish in English, Muna Abu Eid examines the poet's intellectual status on two fronts - both national and public - and offers a critical assessment of Darwish's national and political life. Based on Darwish's own writings and interviews with people who worked with him and situating Darwish's poetry within the wider context of Palestinian struggles inside Israel, this book explores the influence of Darwish's life and work in the Palestinian territories and in the diaspora: from the destruction of his Galilee village and displacement of his family during the 1948 Nakba; to his return and 'infiltration' back into the homeland and the struggle for survival inside Israel; to his internal and external exiles in Haifa, Moscow, Cairo, Beirut, Tunisia, Paris and even Ramallah.

Preface -- Part I -- Zan-e Farangi (Farangi Woman) -- Occidentalism -- Iran in the Late 19th Century -- The Appearance of European Women -- in Persian Painting -- Images of European Women in th -- e 17th Century in Iran -- Sukiasian House -- Part II -- Return of Images of Farangi Women in Iran -- Images of Farangi Women in -- Later Persian Houses -- Use of Original Western -- Prints of Images of European Women -- Mirror Rooms -- Shahshahani House -- Zavelian House -- House of Mushir al-Mulk -- Homa'i House -- Trays -- Part III -- Iranian Contribution -- Farangi Women on Rugs and Other Media -- Fatima -- Farangi Women on Rugs, Qalamkars, and Tiles Front cover Author biography Endorsements Title Copyright Dedication Contents Introduction 1. On the Role of the Intellectual 2. Displacement and Exile 3. Literature and Nation-Building 4. Speaking Truth to Power 5. Attitudes and Principles 6. On Peace and War Conclusion Table 1: Original Arabic Citations Table 2: Transliteration from Arabic to English Table 3: Transliteration from Hebrew to English Notes Bibliography Index Back cover The first comprehensive biography of the most important and most influential Palestinian poet which is intertwined with key themes relating to Palestinian history, national identity and politics.