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Jordan

Leather letter case with embroidered floral design, which is the same on both sides. Edged with...

Bequest of Marian Hague, Smithsonian Institute.. Public domain.

On the Outskirts of Utopia

By Lana al-Majali

Jordanian poet and writer Lana al-Majali delivers a sweeping essay on the brilliance, and urgency, of poetry.

Translated from Arabic by Addie Leak

Multilingual

A photo of a street in Amman, with cars parked on each side of the road. In the foreground there...

Photo by Danil Ahmetşah from Unsplash. Public domain.

A Street or Less

By Maha Alautoom

Maha Alautoom pens an enchanting poem that takes us through Amman’s streets.

Translated from Arabic by Salma Harland

Multilingual

A white mug spilling milk onto an ochre mug, which is tilted towards a black mug.

Photo by Claudia Carbungco from Unsplash. Public domain.

Nameless

An expectant mother finds herself nurtured, then threatened by a circle of women in this short story by Jordan’s Rema Hmoud.

Translated from Arabic by Ibrahim Fawzy

Multilingual

A photo of a power kite flying high in the sky as the sun sets. In the right corner there is a...

Photo by Photo by Kürşad Karaağaç from Pexels. Public domain.

You Exist to Dream

By Zuhair Abu Shayeb

Jordanian poet Zuhair Abu Shayeb questions the limitations of history, water, and the past in this fervent poem.

Translated from Arabic by Miled Faiza & Karen McNeil

Multilingual

A scorpion is on a rocky surface. The colours are inverted as the photo was taken under a UV light.

Photo by Shaan Hurley from Openverse. Public domain.

Vertigo

By Hisham Bustani

The familiar tale of a recent college graduate trying to make his way in the world devolves into something more chilling in Hisham Bustani’s short story.

Translated from Arabic by Addie Leak

Multilingual

A collection of books for sale in Amman, Jordan, propped up on a crate and in various wooden bookshelves....

Photo by Ayman N. Yusuf from Pexels. Public domain.

Heart of the Storm: A Sample of Jordanian Writing in English

In this introduction to our collection of Jordanian writing, guest editor Addie Leak details the country's diverse culture and vital literature.

April-2022-Arabic-Kid-Lit-Interview-Feature-Image

From left to right: Salwa Shakhshir, Miranda Beshara, and Mohamed Nabulsi.

The Present and Future of Arabic Kid Lit: A Conversation

By M. Lynx Qualey

There are many great Arabic children’s books that haven’t reached their young readers yet.

Time-Travelers, Fisherwomen, and Sleuths: Arabic Young Adult Literature

By Elisabeth Jaquette

While Arabic publishing has historically focused on literature for adults and young children, recent years have seen an increasing number of titles aimed at a young adult readership.

Mossy rocks at the edge of the coastline in Gaza

Photo by Emad El Byed on Unsplash

Against the Tide

By Taghreed Najjar

Who ever heard of a fisherwoman in Gaza, much less a young girl?

Translated from Arabic by Elisabeth Jaquette

A black-and-white photo of two men and a women standing on a terrace, each framed in doorway

Photo by Fernando Rodrigues on Unsplash

from “The Amman Bride”

By Fadi Zaghmout

That way we could both have our own family, but carry on seeing each other in secret.

Translated from Arabic by Ruth Ahmedzai Kemp

Multilingual

Dolls and Angels

By Elias Farkouh

When Hannan was within a few steps of her house, she saw everything.

Translated from Arabic by William Maynard Hutchins

Multilingual

Transformations in Palestinian Literature

By Faisal Darraj

Others have been obliged to live the lives of impossible citizenship, since the Arab who lives on the Land of Israel can never be the equal of an Israeli citizen.

Translated from Arabic by Michael K. Scott

My City’s Ceiling Is Too Tight

By Hala Shurouf

O my city . . . Be a little larger / so that I may see my shadow free / on the sidewalks

Translated from Arabic by Issa J. Boullata

A Lady Who Does Not Resemble Me

By Hala Shurouf

She opens the window to the friendly morning / and tempts its birds

Translated from Arabic by Issa J. Boullata