Introduction To Arab Poetics

Adonis is widely considered one of the Arab world's greatest living poets. Born in Syria in 1930, he settled in Lebanon in the 1950s where he became a central figure in the new Arabic poetic movement. In 1956 he helped establish the literary magazine Shi'r, and in 1968 founded its successor, the equally prestigious Mawakif. Both were to play a seminal role in the revival of the Arabic literary tradition. Adonis is the author of several classic works that have led to a rigorous reassessment of the Arab cultural heritage.

'As important a cultural manifesto as any written today.' Edward Said, Independent on Sunday 'The Arab world's greatest living poet has cultivated a garden of language.' New York Times 'Adonis is a writer like Neruda or Marquez.' Geoff Dyer, The Independent ' ... Introduces the reader to a new way of interpreting all poetry, and to many marvellous words that do not have an English equivalent.' Arts Letter