Arab American Literary Fictions, Cultures, and Politics

1. Front Matter

   Pages i-xi

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2. Introduction Searching Diversities: Observations of an Arab Ex-Student

   • Steven Salaita

   Pages 1-16

3. Problems of Inclusion: Arab American Studies and Ambiguous States of Being

   • Steven Salaita

   Pages 17-49

4. The Internationalization of the Nation: The Uses of the Lebanese Civil War in Arab American Fiction

   • Steven Salaita

   Pages 51-85

5. Honesty Lost: The Strange Circumstances of Love, Death, and Norma Khouri

   • Steven Salaita

   Pages 87-108

6. Escaping Inadequate Spaces: Anti-Arab Racism and Liberating Fictions

   • Steven Salaita

   Pages 109-142

7. Conclusion Multicultural and Monocultural Disjunctions

   • Steven Salaita

   Pages 143-153

8. Back Matter

   Pages 155-196

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N.B. this is a 'Palgrave to Order' title. Stock of this book requires shipment from overseas. It will be delivered to you within 12 weeks. Using literary and social analysis, this book examines a range of modern Arab American literary fiction and illustrates how socio-political phenomena have affected the development of the Arab American novel.

• America
• American studies
• fiction
• novel
• politics

'Salaita makes an invaluable contribution here, not only to the study of Arab American literature but to the emergence of Arab American studies as a field. Leaping over the glib celebration of hybridity that often passes for critical analysis of ethnic literature, and at the same time skillfully wielding what is useful from theory, Salaita takes a pragmatic, ethical approach to understanding new as well as classic Arab American fiction, in an authorial voice that is congenial, generous and trustworthy.' - Mohja Kahf, Associate Professor, University of Arkansas, USA

'Salaita's Arab American Literary Fictions, Cultures, and Politics is an exceptional blend of personal recollections and observations, literary criticism and narrative history. This intellectually stimulating and absorbing collection is not only an important contribution to better understanding Arab American culture and society, but a vital contribution to Arab American Studies.' - Nathalie Handal, Author of The Lives of Rain and editor of The Poetry of Arab Women

'This is an excellent resource to scholars of Ethnic Studies, American Studies, and Literary Studies who are interested in incorporating Arab American Studies into their courses and departmental agendas. In addition to making a persuasive case for the importance of Arab American literature, Salaita, drawing from his background in Native American Studies, offers a unique and valuable methodological and conceptual approach to Arab American Studies. Salaita is a leading scholar whose work holds tremendous relevance for the future of American Studies.' - Evelyn Alsultany, Assistant Professor, Program in American Culture, University of Michigan, USA

This book will make an important contribution to the emerging field of Arab American studies. The most valuable aspect of Salaita's study is not necessarily the set of answers that the he provides, but rather the insightful and discerning questions he asks about the feasibility of an Arab American Studies, the role of politics/war in Arab American literature, how to ensure that Arab Americans are not rendered 'perpetually inalterable,' and the existence of deeply entrenched stereotypes of Arabs that allow hoaxes such as Norma Khouri's to succeed. Throughout this book, the writing is original, informative, and graceful. - Susan Muaddi Darraj, Associate Professor at Harford Community College, USA; Author of Scheherazade's Legacy: Arab and Arab-American Women on Writing and The Inheritance of Exile

STEVEN SALAITA is Assistant Professor of English at Virginia Tech, USA, and currently serves as Executive Director of the Radius of Arab American Writers, Inc. His previous books include Anti-Arab Racism in the USA and The Holy Land in Transit: Colonialism and the Quest for Canaan.

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