All Faces but Mine ― The Poetry of Samih Al-qasim

Translator Lu’lu’a cites the change in tone of Arabic poetry in Palestine after the 1948 Israeli occupation: more and more liberated from romanticism and French sentimentalism, it revolved around Palestine’s new situation. Critically acclaimed poet, essayist, and journalist, Samih Al-Qasim (1939-2014), whose ancestors fought the Crusaders, was from a family of Durooz Muslims. Imprisoned for refusing to join the Israeli Army, he later became a journalist and wrote poetry on Arab and Palestinian affairs. Closely associated with poet Mahomood Darwish, his work brought him multiple dismissals from jobs, imprisonments, and house arrests. Twelve chapters are: collected works, volume 3; elusive land; I’ll get out of my image one day; funeral oration by the deceased at his memorial celebration; Atlantis king; visions of Nostrasamihdamos; a very personal conversation with Mahmood Darwish; I regret; collage 2; regardless; collage 3; collage 4. Annotation c2016 Ringgold, Inc., Portland, OR (protoview.com)

Samih Al-Qasim was a critically acclaimed poet, essayist, and journalist. An outspoken advocate of Palestinian rights, he was imprisoned several times for his writing. He published numerous poetry collections, including Sadder Than Water: New and Selected Poems, the only other book-length English translation of his work.

`Abdulwahid Lu’lu’a is an Iraqi writer based in the United Kingdom, whose previous translations have won a range of literary prizes. He has published twelve books in Arabic and forty-two books in translation, all on literary subjects.