Unfortunately, It Was Paradise: Selected Poems
by Mahmoud Darwish
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Book Summary Information
Author: Mahmoud DarwishTranslator: Munir Akash
Translator: Carolyn Forché
Translator: Sinan Antoon
Translator: Amira El-Zein
Edition: Paperback
Audio: English (Unknown); English (Original Language); English (Published)
Published: 2003-01-06
ISBN: 0520237544
Number of pages: 208
Publisher: University of California Press
Book Reviews of Unfortunately, It Was Paradise: Selected Poems
Book Review: Universal, religious, political and excellent
Summary: 5 Stars
Darwish is the first contemporary poet I have read whom I can plausibly envision being read a millenia from now. While he writes from the perspective of an exiled Palestinian, he does so in a manner that speaks of universal exile (or alienation). He writes with images and language that speaks well across cultures; the few pages of glossary provide what little may not be immediately known to a western reader. His images are arresting but simple: "A silver thread is drawn out of mulberry trees / forming letters on the page of night" or "We gnawed on stones to open a space for jasmine". He makes effective use of repetition, with and without variation. He uses the common base of Judaism, Christianity and Islam as a cultural base for recognizing common humanity: "Beneath us is Noah's flood, Babylon, broken corpses, / skeletons, temples, and the breath of peoples' cries / for help upon the face of the waters."Poem after poem requires a second, a third reading not because of failure to understand in the first reading but because of the beauty and depth of thought held in the poem.
Yes, it would be nice to be able to read the original, but lacking that capability, the translation provides immediate enjoyment.
Summary of Unfortunately, It Was Paradise: Selected Poems
Mahmoud Darwish is a literary rarity: at once critically acclaimed as one of the most important poets in the Arabic language, and beloved as the voice of his people. He is a living legend whose lyrics are sung by fieldworkers and schoolchildren. He has assimilated some of the world's oldest literary traditions at the same time that he has struggled to open new possibilities for poetry. This collection spans Darwish's entire career, nearly four decades, revealing an impressive range of expression and form. A splendid team of translators has collaborated with the poet on these new translations, which capture Darwish's distinctive voice and spirit.Middle East Books
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