The Postcolonial Arabic Novel

In a study and critique of the modern Arabic novel, especially in its post-Mahfuzian phase, Al-Musawi does make use of some earlier studies and readings, but strives to transcend them to engage postcolonial issues that relate to identity formation, the modern nation-state, individualism, nationalism, gender and class demarcations, and micro-politics. He focuses on long narratives in Arabic that manifest keen awareness of Arabic life and culture, and avoids periodization in order to tackle issues that cut across time and space despite a work's concern with specific contexts of social justice, political freedom, and national or communal independence. Annotation (c) Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)

Muhsin Jassim al-Musawi is a leading literary critic in the Arab World, with many publications in Arabic and English. He has taught widely, and was offered the Professorship in Arabic at the American University of Cairo,2002. He teaches at the American University in Sharjah, and is currently appointed as the Senior Professor of Arabic and Comparative Literature at Columbia University in the City of New York.