He was educated at harvard and american university in cairo and is currently translating a major work by iraqi. Abdelrahman munif, author of cities of salt, on librarything. Abdul rahman 1762 1829 abdul rahman, 1828, by henry inman, 1828. A special issue of the mit electronic journal of middle east studies on munifs life and work vol 7, spring 2007. 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, though without love or sex and without strong protagonists, is a lively, colorful, unique novel wellworth reading and free of diatribe. We additionally allow variant types and as well as type of the books to browse. Roger allen is professor of arabic language and comparative literature at the university of pennsylvania. His novels included strong political elements as well as mockeries of the.
His work so offended the rulers of saudi arabia that many of his books were banned and his saudi more about abdelrahman munif. Cities of salt by abdelrahman munif, paperback barnes. 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. His books included cities of salt, the trench, and variations on night and day.
A compelling interweaving of stories, endings is striking not only for its setting and its unique style of narrative, but also for its vivid commentary on the emergence of the modern city and its urban middle class. This onepage guide includes a plot summary and brief analysis of cities of salt by abdelrahman munif. 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. From the colonization and journal of freedom 1834, frontispiece abdul rahman abdal rahman. On september 10th we read endings al nehayat by abd alrahman munif. According to ibrahim nasrullah, jordanian novelist, munif was one of the most courageous and noble wrier in. He was stripped of his saudi citizenship for political reasons. Born of a saudi father and an iraqi mother, he became an arab n. I often thought of the brazilian writers, guimaraes rosa and amado, who brought whole worlds to life, onto the world stage. Abdulrahman mounif, who has died aged 71, promoted a new genre of fiction that reflected the social, political and economic realities of modern arab society. Buy a cheap copy of cities of salt book by abdul rahman munif. Although a great craftsman of the 20th century arabic novel, his literary legacy goes largely uncelebrated.
Ibrahima abdal rahman was one of few men to return to africa after living as a slave in the united states. According to ibrahim nasrullah, jordanian novelist, munif was one of the most courageous and noble wrier in the arab world. His main characters are threedimensional, and by the novels end munif has acquainted the reader with his main characters and with life in this rural saudi culture. 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. Munif was born a saudi national and brought up in amman, jordan to saudi father and an iraqi mother. The conventional book, fiction, history, novel, scientific research, as capably as various extra sorts of books are readily genial here. Although im sure that these books are very meaningful to citizens of saudi arabia, i had a hard time relating. A novel vintage international vintage international ed by munif, abd alrahman isbn.
Dhahran, 1996 a short article by abdelrahman munif, commenting on the bombing of the us base at dhahran, saudi arabia. In the cities of salt by abdelrahman munif and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. Munif was born a saudi national and brought up in amman, jordan to a saudi father and iraqi mother. Story of a city1st edition a childhood in amman literature by abd al rahman munif, samira kawar, abd al rahman munif, abdelrahman munif, abdul rahman munif paperback, 320 pages, published 1998 by quartet books uk isbn. Even though it took me forever to read the book, i always looked with anticipation to what. I love books good books books to read my books book qoutes words quotes book club books book lists book names. The day of his birth coincided with the persian gulfs first concession agreement, signed between the monarch of the newly created kingdom of saudi arabia abdul aziz ibn saud and an american oil corporation, the californian arabian standard oil company. Abdul rahman munif books list of books by author abdul. Abdelrahman munif was born in amman, the capital of jordan, into a trading family. Abdel alrahman munif wrote fifteen novels, including the monumental quintet cities of salt, and won numerous distinguished arab awards. See all books authored by abdul rahman munif, including cities of salt, and the trench, and more on thriftbooks. Abdelrahman munif abdel rahman munif abd alrahman munif. The main character of this novel is an arab person living in a prison.
It describes the changes in the place, a semiarid desert, and its local muslim inhabitants over this time period. In the opinion of many, abdelrahman munif was the most important author in the arab world during the late 20th century. Abdul rahman munif, 71, political novelist the new york. Novelist and political activist who highlighted the arab plight. Abdelrahman munif npr coverage of abdelrahman munif. East of the meditteranean is another novel written by abdul rahman munif. A compelling interweaving of stories, endings is striking not only for its setting and its unique style of narrative, but also for its vivid commentary on the emergence of the modern city. This is the second book of the trilogy by abdelrahman munif. Today would have been saudiiraqi novelist abdelrahman munifs 19332004 81st birthday. Cities of salt by abdul rahman munif 2167 words bartleby. His novels include strong political elements and parodies of. Story of a city1st edition a childhood in amman literature by abd alrahman munif, samira kawar, abd alrahman munif, abdelrahman munif, abdul rahman munif paperback, 320 pages, published 1998 by quartet books uk isbn. Like the rest of his work, this fiction narrates a political story. In the arabic language, writings of abd alrahman munif 1933 2004, a jordanianborn saudi novelist.
Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. 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. He was born in jordan in 1933, to a saudi father and died of a heart attack january 24, 2004, in syria. Abd alrahman munif, arab writer and economist born 1933, amman, transjordan now in jordandied jan. Even though it took me forever to read the book, i always looked with anticipation to what was going to happen next. Sep 10, 2007 on september 10th we read endings al nehayat by abd alrahman munif. 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.
His work so offended the rulers of saudi arabia that many of his books were banned and his saudi citizenship revoked. Banned in saudia arabia, this is a blistering look at arab and american hypocrisy following the discovery of oil in a poor oasis community. Although im sure that these books are very meaningful to citizens of saudi arabia, i had a hard time. 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. Munif, abd alrahman and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. He studied law at baghdad and cairo universities and took a phd in oil economics at the university of belgrade. Munif, abd al rahman and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. Why does abdelrahman munif not make the world literature canon. I have read all three but the first book, city of salt was my favorite. Munif maintains a continuous flow of events that render the cultural changes understandable.
Seemingly inspired by chinua achebes things fall apart, cities of salt tells the story of the changes brought by globalization and the oil economy in an unnamed middle eastern society. Despite the defeat of the ottoman empire, this was still a world dominated by cities, a. It is the first of a quintet of books that tells the story of the discovery of huge oil. Abdelrahman munif was born in jordan in 1933 into a trading family of saudi arabian origin. But they would deal with the books as themselves, and not as a proxy for an enemy. Abd alrahman munif get textbooks new textbooks used. War on words by tariq ali the triumph of the free market after the end of the cold war doesnt mean a free market in ideas. Abd alrahman munif wrote fifteen novels, including the monumental quintet cities of salt, and won numerous distinguished arab awards.
He received a law degree from the sorbonne and a phd in oil economics from the university of belgrades faculty of economics. The main character is a prisoner who is tortured in a political prison located in saudi arabia. Jan 29, 2004 born in amman in 1933 to a saudi trader and an iraqi mother, munif spent his first decade in this city. This site uses cookies to deliver our services, improve performance, for analytics, and if not signed in for advertising. Abdul rahman munif has 35 books on goodreads with 066 ratings. In 1952 he moved to baghdad to study law and later moved to cairo. Born in amman in 1933 to a saudi trader and an iraqi mother, munif spent his first decade in this city. Abdul rahman munif, 71, political novelist the new york times.
Download books abdul rahman munif pdf noor book for. Cities of salt is a historical fiction book set in an unnamed arab country during the first half of the 20th century. Munif has not been awarded the recognition he deserves, especially in the english language, but he will be remembered as the arab novelist who enriched arabic culture through his literary prose. Start your 48hour free trial to unlock this abdelrahman munif study guide and get instant access to the following biography. The author abdul rahman munifs style in this translation is rather folksy, in my opinion. Published in 1975, the novel highlights many themes, the most prominent of which is freedom. His work so offended the rulers of saudi arabia that many of his books were banned and. Abdelrahman munif was jordanianborn economist and prominent. See all books authored by abdul rahman munif, including cities of salt, and the trench, and more on. Munif never actually identifies the country where the events of. Every once in a while in my experience, a book comes along that opens new possibilities and ways of viewing the world. Abdul rahman munif, 1933 2004 was one of the greatest and most controversial arab novelists, economist, and remarkable figure of world literature.
Cities of salt book by abdul rahman munif thriftbooks. He was educated at harvard and american university in cairo and is currently translating a major work by iraqi novelist najem wali. His novels included strong political elements as well as mockeries of the middle eastern elite classes. Abdelrahman munif and the uses of oil words without borders. Renowned arab writer abd alrahman munif has died of a heart attack in syria at the age of 71. Renowned arab writer abd al rahman munif has died of a heart attack in syria at the age of 71.
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