Narrating Postcolonial Arab Nations: Egypt, Algeria, Lebanon, Palestine

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Narrating Postcolonial Arab Nations significantly enhances the interface between postcolonial literary studies and the hitherto under-studied Arab world. Lindsey Moore brings together canonical and less familiar Arab novels and memoirs from the last half century to consider colonial continuities and consequences. Literary narratives are shown to oppose repressive versions of nationalism and to track desire lines toward more hospitable nations. The literatures discussed in this book enable a deeper historical understanding of twenty-first century Arab uprisings and their aftermaths. The book analyzes four rich sites of literary production: Egypt, Algeria, Lebanon, and Palestine. Moore explores ways in which authors critique particular nation-state formations and decolonizing histories, engage the general problematic of ‘the nation’, and redefine, repurpose, and transcend national literary canons. Chapter One contrasts Egyptian literary representations of popular revolt with official revolutionary discourse. Chapter Two addresses the enduring legacy of anti-colonial violence in Algeria and the place of Albert Camus in its literature. Chapter Three uses narratives of gender violence on the Beirut front line to reveal the divisibility and intersectional identity politics of postcolonial nation-states. Chapter Four emphasizes ways in which Palestinian memoirs insist upon remembering towards a postcolonial future. The book provides detailed analysis of literary narratives by Etel Adnan, Rabih Alameddine, Alaa al-Aswany, Rachid Boudjedra, Albert Camus, Rashid al-Daïf, Assia Djebar, Ghada Karmi, Naguib Mahfouz, Jean Said Makdisi, Edward Said, Boualem Sansal, Raja Shehadeh, Miral al-Tahawy, and Latifa al-Zayyat. It is an indispensable volume for students and scholars of Postcolonial, Arab, and World literatures. Cover Half Title Title Page Copyright Page Contents Acknowledgements A Note on the Text Introduction Postcolonial Studies and the Arab World: Towards a Critical Counterpoint Postcolonial Arab Nations Narrating Postcolonial Arab Nations 1 Before, after and between the Revolutions: Desire and Death in the Egyptian Postcolony Revolution I: Naguib Mahfouz, The Cairo Trilogy Revolution II: Latifa al-Zayyat, The Open Door Between the Acts: Mahfouz, Miramar Counter-Revolution: Miral al-Tahawy, Blue Aubergine Death and Desire: Alaa al-Aswany, The Yacoubian Building 2 ‘We Algerians’: National Emergencies and Alternative Genealogies A Brief History of Algerian Violence: Two ‘Fanonian’ Wars An Alternative Algerian Vision: Albert Camus, The First Man and ‘The Guest’ Unfinished Literature: Assia Djebar, Algerian White ‘Le fils naturel’: Rashid Boudjedra, The Repudiation and The Barbary Figs Algerian Hospitality in the Feminine: Boualem Sansal, Harraga and Rue Darwin 3 Gender Trauma on the Line: Lebanese War Literature Taboo Subjects, Narrative Predicaments and the Front Line Dissident Dismembering/Remembering: Etel Adnan, Sitt Marie Rose Queerer and Queerer: Rashid al-Daïf, Passage to Dusk Gendered Space, Heteronormative Desire, Disavowed Histories Rabih Alameddine, I, the Divine: A Novel in First Chapters 4 Palestine in the Colonial Present: Ruins, Rifts and the Remainder Writing Palestinian Lives Becoming Palestinian: Edward Said, Out of Place: A Memoir (1999) An ‘Arab Woman’s Memoir’: Jean Said Makdisi, Teta, Mother and Me Resolution Deferred: Ghada Karmi, In Search of Fatima and Return Ruins, the Rift and Reconfigurations of the Nation: Raja Shehadeh, Strangers in the House, Palestinian Walks and A Rift in Time Works Cited Index