Abd alrahman munif, arab writer and economist born 1933, amman, transjordan now in jordandied jan. His work so offended the rulers of saudi arabia that many of his books were banned and. His novels included strong political elements as well as mockeries of the. His books included cities of salt, the trench, and variations on night and day. From one of the most highly regarded writers of arabic literature, trench is the second volume in the epic quintet cities of salt.
May 06, 2020 abdul rahman munif cities of salt pdf banned in saudia arabia, this is a blistering look at arab and american hypocrisy following the discovery of oil in a poor oasis community. Munif began his career as a writer of fiction relatively late in life. Librarything is a cataloging and social networking site for booklovers. Abdulrahman munif is a prolific writer whose large output displays a high degree of originality and a remarkable variety of theme and structure, although nearly all his novels have several features in common, in particular the authors passionate concern for the freedom of the individual visavis an oppressive totalitarian regime in fact, the only novel. Abdelrahman munif, a jordanian born saudi novelist, wrote a novel called cities of salt. Cities of salt book by abdul rahman munif thriftbooks. The trench cities of salt trilogy, vol 2, new york. Louis community college, around teaching abdelrahman munifs cities of salt, translated by peter theroux. Ibn naffehs words end of abdul rahman munifs 1984 novel cities of salt and capture the intensity of loathing expressed by a multitude of characters. Peter theroux is the translator of a dozen books from arabic, including abdelrahman munifs cities of salt trilogy, naguib mahfouzs children of the alley, and emile habibys saraya the ogres daughter, a palestinian fairy tale. Abdulrahman munif english literature essays essay sauce. The novel, and the quintet of which it is the first volume, describes the farreaching effects of the discovery of huge reserves of oil under a onceidyllic oasis somewhere on the arabian peninsula. Abdul rahman munif, whose critically praised novels looked at political oppression in the middle east and were often banned by arab governments, died here on jan. Ibn naffehs words end of abdul rahman munif s 1984 novel cities of salt and capture the intensity of loathing expressed by a multitude of characters.
Cities of salt, published by a saudi arabianjordanian author in 1984, is a very foreign novel to an american reader. Cities of salt, though without love or sex and without strong protagonists, is a lively, colorful, unique novel wellworth reading and free of diatribe. Like the great mexican muralists, rivera, orozco, and siqueiros, munif paints the painful, colorful, and confused story of the transformation of a whole societylike chinua achebe of nigeria, he shows. Cities of salt by abdelrahman munif and oil on water. I left off, with the effects of the discovery of oil reserves in the region beginning to show their true colors. He was born in jordan in 1933, to a saudi father and died of a heart attack january 24, 2004, in syria. Born of a saudi father and an iraqi mother, he became an arab nationalistsecular and socialistafter the declaration of israels statehood in 1948. His bestknown work is the monumental quintet, cities of salt 198489, set in an unnamed arab state of the gulf. It followed the evolution of the arabian peninsula.
Cities of salt by abdul rahman munif 2167 words 9 pages short essay the post colonial arabic novel cities of salt cities of salt has often been read as at once an elegy for a disfigured space and society, and a chronicle of its transformation. Abdul rahman munifs quintet cities of salt sketches an image of the ecological destruction triggered by americas oildriven interference in the gulf region, which consequently became a triggering factor for the emergence of islamic authoritarianism and political conflicts. It is the first of a quintet of books that tells the story of the discovery of huge oil reserves under a formerly idyllic oasis on the arabian peninsula, and how the stores of valuable oil. Cities of salt cities of salt trilogy, vol 1, new york. Understanding a chorus as culture when they said nothing, he went on. He was educated at harvard and american university in cairo and is currently translating a major work by iraqi novelist najem wali. Jun 15, 2019 abdul rahman munif is one of the most celebrated authors in the arabic language. Born of a saudi father and an iraqi mother, he became an arab n. Variations on night and day cities of salt trilogy, vol 3, new york. A novel vintage international vintage international ed by munif, abd alrahman isbn. Cities of salt by abdelrahman munif heraclitean fire.
Cities of salt by abdelrahman munif, paperback barnes. One of my favorite quotes in cities of salt, dont act so important, my boywe are all guests in this world. Jul 05, 2019 the many characters of abdul rahman munifs cities of salt. Cities of salt by abdul rahman munif 2167 words 9 pages. The author, abdul rahman munif, who received his ph. Abdul rahman munif cities of salt pdf banned in saudia arabia, this is a blistering look at arab and american hypocrisy following the. Munifs magnum opus is the mudun almilh cities of salt. Ecology in post colonial literature of the middle east and africa. Banned in saudia arabia, this is a blistering look at arab and american hypocrisy following the discovery of oil in a poor oasis community. He was educated at harvard and american university in cairo and is currently translating a major work by iraqi. The author abdul rahman munifs style in this translation is rather folksy, in my opinion. Published about 15 novels, including the fivebook series cities of salt which is considered his masterpiece. In a novel which contains no evident central protagonist, i suggest that instead of viewing the novel as without, view the novel as possessing a great many protagonists, all of whom.
It is set in an unnamed country presumably saudi arabia. The author abdul rahman munif s style in this translation is rather folksy, in my opinion. Specifically, it shows how the local arab communities are changed for the worse by the intrusion of western. Abdul rahman mounif, abdel rahman mounif, abd alrahman munif. The events of cities of salt start around the 1930s in the undisturbed environment of the oasis of wadi aluyoun. His work so offended the rulers of saudi arabia that many of his books were banned and his saudi. Arablits ongoing series on teaching with arabic literature in translation continues with a conversation between arablits editor and layla azmi goushey, associate professor of english at st.
Cities of salt by abdelrahman munif, translated by peter theroux, is my book from jordan for the read the world challenge. Cities of salt is a novel by saudi novelist, abdul rahman munif, first published in beirut in 1984 and later translated into english by peter theroux. The novel, and the quintet of which it is the first volume, describes the farreaching effects of the discovery of huge reserves of oil. Cities of salt is a highly unusual novel because unlike most, its main character is not a human being, but a city, even a country or a culture. Peter theroux is the translator of a dozen books from arabic, including abdelrahman munif s cities of salt trilogy, naguib mahfouzs children of the alley, and emile habibys saraya the ogres daughter, a palestinian fairy tale. Abdelrahman munif, author of cities of salt, on librarything.
Cities of salt is a historical fiction book set in an unnamed arab country during the first half of the 20th century. Jul 05, 2019 abdulrahman munif is a prolific writer whose large output displays a high degree of originality and a remarkable variety of theme and structure, although nearly all his novels have several features in common, in particular the authors passionate concern for the freedom of the individual visavis an oppressive totalitarian regime in fact, the only novel. Cities of salt trilogy by abd alrahman munif, 9780679745334, available at book depository with free delivery worldwide. I have mixed feelings about this first novel in a pentalogy. It is the longest novel in modern arabic literature, which took more than six years to be written at 2,500 pages and was banned in several middle eastern countries, including saudi arabia. This conversation works a bit differently, beginning with questions and ending with a. Abdul rahman munif, 71, political novelist the new york times.
Colonial arabic novel cities of salt cities of salt has often been read as at once an elegy for a disfigured space and society, and a chronicle of its transformation. Apr 29, 2018 abdul rahman munifs quintet cities of salt sketches an image of the ecological destruction triggered by americas oildriven interference in the gulf region, which consequently became a triggering factor for the emergence of islamic authoritarianism and political conflicts. It describes the changes in the place, a semiarid desert, and its local muslim inhabitants over this time period. Aug 21, 2010 cities of salt by abdelrahman munif, translated by peter theroux, is my book from jordan for the read the world challenge. Munif lived in egypt, yugoslavia, iraq, france, and in syria. Munif lived in egypt, yugoslavia, iraq, france, and in. Colonial arabic novel cities of salt cities of salt has often been read as at once an elegy for a disfigured space and society, and a. Abdelrahman munif and the uses of oil words without borders. Abdul rahman munif books list of books by author abdul. In this episode, we sit down with literature scholar suja sawafta to learn about the social and political experiences that shaped munif as an author, and in particular, we explore the role of the environment in some his most important works such as cities of salt. Tracing the economic history of the arabic world, munif picks up where vol. Abdul rahman munif has 35 books on goodreads with 821 ratings. I often thought of the brazilian writers, guimaraes rosa and amado, who brought whole worlds to life, onto the world stage. The first book of munifs classic cities of salt quintet seems to be posted, in its entirety, on the university of warwick website.
His work so offended the rulers of saudi arabia that many of his books were banned and his saudi citizenship revoked. Encountering the vicious arrival of the global, political and economic modernity to an unnamed persian gulf kingdom is the main point of munif in this novel. The americans are the source of the illness and the root of the problem. Abdelrahman munif was one of the most gifted arab novelists of the 20th. Cities of salt deals with the changes that the exploitation of oil brought about among bedouins in saudi arabia. Abdul rahman munif is one of the most celebrated authors in the arabic language. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. The english translations all published by vintage, new york. It was first published in lebanon in 1984 and was immediately recognized as a major work of arab literature. His fivepart novel the cities of salt 198489 registers the history of the arab world during the oil era and examines mounifs theory that the arabs. It is the first of a quintet of books that tells the story of the discovery of huge oil reserves under a formerly idyllic oasis on the arabian peninsula, and how the stores of. The many characters of abdul rahman munifs cities of salt. His fivepart novel the cities of salt 198489 registers the history of the arab world during the oil era and examines mounifs theory that the.
Cities of salt by abdul rahman munif 2167 words bartleby. Significant quotes in abdelrahman munifs cities of salt with explanations. Abdul rahman munif, 71, political novelist the new york. Buy a cheap copy of cities of salt book by abdul rahman munif. Abdul rahman munif, 1933 2004 was one of the greatest and most controversial arab novelists, economist, and remarkable figure of world literature. Abdelrahman munif was jordanianborn economist and prominent arabiclanguage novelist, who used modernist narrative techniques. Abdelrahman munif abdel rahman munif abd alrahman munif. Facebook is showing information to help you better understand the purpose of a page. Feb 02, 2004 abdul rahman munif, whose critically praised novels looked at political oppression in the middle east and were often banned by arab governments, died here on jan.
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