ArabLit Quarterly

This issue of “ArabLit Quarterly” features work that is STRANGE, unsettling, dis-quieting, and extraordinary. We have poetry by both acclaimed and younger writers, such as Salim Barakat, Abdallah Zrika, Fouad M. Fouad, Fadwa Suleiman, Abd al-Latif Khattab, and Nada Menzalji. You'll find short stories by Caine Prize-winning Sudanese writer Bushra al-Fadhil, Almultaqa Prize-winning Iraqi author Diaa Jubaili, University of Arkansas Arabic Translation Award-winning Jordanian writer Hisham Bustani, and three acclaimed young Egyptian writers: Tareq Imam, Eman Abdelrahim, and Amgad ElSabban. At the center of our issue is "Our Demons, Ourselves," a wonderfully fun-and strange-essay by Rachel Schine on her specialty: classical Arabic poetry & hip hop. And many regular features, such as "Letter to a Late Author," "#TranslateThis," and "Judge a Book by Its Cover."

The first-ever issue of “ArabLit Quarterly” brings together short stories and poetry by exciting Arabic-language writers translated into English such as South Sudanese writer Stella Gaitano, Syrian short-story writer Zakariya Tamer, Palestinian poet Asmaa Azaizeh (translated into English, French, and Dutch), Lebanese poet Wadie Saadeh, Egyptian writer Muhammad Abdelnabi, Saudi writer Raja Alem, and others. Also: An open letter from novelist Sofia Samatar to deceased writer Tayeb Salih. A playlist to go with Mohamed Rabie's apocalyptic novel "Otared." A talk between graphic novelist Zeina Abirached and Olivia Snaije. With translations by award winners Marilyn Hacker, Yasmine Seale, Robin Moger, and more.