A Reader of Modern Arabic Short Stories

Designed for the English-speaking student, this reader brings together the Arabic texts of eleven of the best modern Arabic short stories. Each is preceded by an introduction in English, containing biographical information about the author and a critical analysis designed to encourage the student to make a literary response to the story, rather than regarding it as an anthropological curiosity or a linguistic conundrum. Notes explain colloquial and idiomatic words and phrases, which may cause difficulty. This anthology -- the fruit of several years' teaching experience -- will help to satisfy a growing interest in modern Arabic literature in many parts of the world.

Sabry Hafez is one of the leading literary critics in the Arab World. He has published extensively in Arabic and English, with several books and numerous articles to his name. He is currently lecturer in Arabic in the School of Oriental and African Studies in London.

Catherine Cobham teaches modern Arabic literature at the University of St Andrew's and is the acclaimed translator of numerous works of Arabic literature.

1) Preface
2) The Stories (including 1 Introduction: the author; 2 Introduction:the story; 3 Arabic text; 4 Textual notes):

Title Author
1 'Shams Saghira' Zakariyya Tamir 11
2 'Al-Khutuba' Baha' Tahir 23
3 'Al-Qayz' Yusuf Al-Sharuni 45
4 'Al-Bash a' Ghalib Halasa 57
5 'Fi'l-Qarya' Mahmud Al-Badawi 81
6 'Al-Tannur' Fu'ad AI-Takarli 105
7 'Bayt min Lahm' Yusuf Idris 117
8 'Hadith AI-Qarya' Mahmud Tahir Lashin 131
9 Imra a Miskina' Yahya Haqqi 147
10 'Hikayat Hawla Hadith Saghir' CAbd Al-Hakim Qasim 171
11 'Jurh Maftuh' Idwar Al-Kharrat 201