I that I’m often annoyed by Adonis’ political and literary chatter (I think he might have contracted the Martin Amis disease), so I only glanced sideways at this and this.
However, I did notice that one of Adonis’s favorite poetesses is the Saudi writer and critic Fawzia Abu Khaled. And while Adonis’s criticism is not enough to wither my love, his praise is enough to pique my interest.
Abu Khaled’s work has generally not been translated into English, although you can find her in Contemporary Poems from the Arabian Peninsula, newly out in Arabic and English.
You can also read a bit of her work in Arabic here.
Also: I don’t know if Banipal is thinking along these lines, but I think they’re due for an issue on Saudi lit.
