Three Worlds: Memoirs of an Arab-Jew by Avi Shlaim—a Review
Selma Dabbagh reviews Avi Shlaim's memoir about his coming-of-age as an Iraqi Jew, living as a minority in Israel and then in England.
Books
“The Mulberry Tree”—an excerpt from Altercation in Jahannam
In the Libyan village “Hell,” temperatures soar to unimaginable heights, and war breaks out over a parking space in the shade of a tree.
Victoria—An Excerpt
We present the first chapter of Karoline Kamel’s debut novel in a new translation in English by Ranya Abdelrahman.
Dune in 2024: A World Beyond Saving
The meta-narrative in Frank Herbert's Dune trilogy foresees the modern disaster of never-ending colonialism and a planet destroyed by oil.
The Top 12 Books to Read This Summer
Travel through the center of the world this summer from the comfort of your couch when you pick up any of these wonderful books.
Plenty of Marjanes & Leilas: Collective Strategies of the Women’s Protest in Iran
Marjane Satrapi's edited anthology "Woman, Life, Freedom" shows that the story of the movement cannot be told with only one voice.
Upheavals of Beauty and Oppression in The Oud Player of Cairo
Jasmin Attia's novel vividly portrays Egypt and Cairo by beautifully conjuring music and sound through descriptive prose.
Life Along Istanbul’s Byzantine Walls, a Review
Arie Amaya-Akkermans on a book that reviews not only Turkey’s social and political deterioration over the last decade, but also the violence of the past, both recent and distant.
The Battle for Climate Justice vs. Environmental Orientalism
Little-reported green colonialism is occurring in the sun-rich but water-deprived MENA region, writes Richard Lim in this review.
Is Amin Maalouf’s Latest Novel, On the Isle of Antioch, a Parody?
Farah-Silvana Kanan questions whether, in this novel, the Franco-Lebanese master is at the height of his powers, or is having us on...
Theatre is the Thing: TMR’s Best-Books List
Editors at The Markaz Review recommend twelve titles published over a 20-year period presenting a broad range of Middle Eastern plays.
A Bicentennial Remembrance of Lord Byron, Among Greeks & Turks
Lord Byron, a theatrical poet, created the concept of celebrity and, with his poetry, brought the Ottoman world to European audiences.
Palestine, Political Theatre & the Performance of Queer Solidarity in Jean Genet’s Prisoner of Love
"Prisoner of Love" acknowledges the limitations of language in capturing the reality of the Palestinian revolution, writes Saleem Haddad.
This Strange Eventful History by Claire Messud —A Review
An entire family is preoccupied with its history and questions of national identity, confounded by France’s rejection of the pieds-noirs.
My Brother, My Land: A Story from Palestine
Saleem Haddad reviews the Sawalha family story that offers hope in resilience, resistance, and survival against all odds.