Curated by Isabella Camera d’Afflitto and Maria Avino
Voices of Arab writers of today and tomorrow
Bompiani, 338 pages, 15 euros
After Voices of Arab writers of yesterday and today, with this precious anthology two experts help us to learn about a great tradition, crowned by the 1988 Nobel Prize to the Egyptian Nagib Mahfuz. Arabic is one of the four most widely spoken languages in the world even if, in Italy, few cultivate its history and guarantee its diffusion. In the book we discover precious stories and pages but also similarities with other novelties, because globalization has also caused proximity and homologations.
The informative and sociological slant is highly commendable because it insists on new trends, as well as those of tradition. Strands that concern a new and disruptive female presence, and some recurring themes, which are no longer ours. Prison for political reasons, war, hunger: “State violence, repression, censorship, violation of human rights, impoverishment are recorded everywhere”. They also concern the frustrated dreams of the “springs”, and the “nihilistic” drift of some authors. And the relationship with the rich countries of the Gulf, migrations even within the Arab world, the influence of distant models such as Rimbaud and Kafka. There are many stories (even from more secret countries like Sudan and Mauritania) that force us to think, to understand. To get to know better those who come among us, driven by wars and hunger.
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