Fathers and Sons in the Arab Middle East

Drawing on insights from psychology, sociology, anthropology, religion, history, and literature, this book examines early and contemporary writings of male authors from across the Arab world to explore the traditional and evolving nature of father-son relationships in Arab families.

'Fathers and Sons in the Arab Middle East by Dalya Cohen-Mor is a perceptive study of father-son relations in Arab history and contemporary Arab society. Drawing from a wide range of literary sources, from Yahya Haqqi's The Saint's Lamp (with its father figure who sacrifices everything for his son's education), to the troubled childhood and neglect experienced in Hanna Mina's Fragments of Memory, the study encompasses all kinds of familial relationships. Particularly interesting are the different themes explored in poetry and politics, and notably the analogy drawn between father/ruler and son/citizen in the context of political oppression and the recent Arab uprisings (by way, for example, of an analysis of Tunisian rapper El General's "Ra'is Lebled"). The study also sheds light on some of the burdens borne even to this day by fathers and sons living in the Arab world.' Banipal: Magazine for Modern Arab Literature

Autorentext
Dalya Mor is a literary scholar and anthologist. She received her PhD in Arabic Language and Literature from Georgetown University, USA, and is currently affiliated with George Washington University, USA.

Inhalt

1. Introduction: Why Fathers and Sons? 2. The Voyage to Manhood: The Elusive Quest 3. Fathers and Sons in Personal Histories 4. Fathers and Sons in Works of Fiction 5. Fathers and Sons in Poetry and Politics 6. Conclusion: Embattled Selves and the Dream of Liberation