The book is the first study of the 10th century Iraqi poet Ibn al-Hajjaj who popularized a new genre of obscene and scatological parody (sukhf) and is considered the most obscene poet in Arabic literature. Antoon traces the genealogy of this fascinating genre in and examines its rise by placing it in its sociopolitical context.

Autorentext
Sinan Antoon is Associate Professor in The Gallatin School at New York University, USA.

Inhalt
Introduction 1. Ibn al-?ajj?j and Sukhf: Genealogies 2. Parodying the Tradition 3. Sukhf in Mad?? 4. Sukhf as sukhf : Abü Nuw?s, Mujün and Ibn al-?ajj?j 5. Sukhf , Scatology and Society Conclusion