Alameddine Lectures on New Book

Left to right: AMPL assitant Farah Aridi and Rabih Alameddine

Lebanese-American writer Rabih Alameddine, sponsored by the Anis Makdisi Program in Literature (AMPL) lectured on May 5 on his new book, The Hakawati. Alameddine, author of three novels and one collection of short stories, talked about his controversial work in the light of the rising East-West conflict. Speaking in front of an audience of professors, students, and acquaintances, Alameddine focused on the reasons that brought him to write The Hakawati, the writing process, the technique, and the themes that help frame the narrative. The Hakawati is said to be the “One Thousand and One Nights” of the century and was described by an issue of The Herald Tribune as “powerful enough to transcend the mountain of polemic, historical inquiry, policy analysis, and reportage that stand between the Western reader and the Arab soul.”

Alameddine is known for his daring literature and page-turning stories. The first printing of The Hakawati sold 40,000 copies. He said that The Hakawati will be translated into 17 languages other than Arabic. While at AUB Alameddine met with creative writing students to discuss the craft of writing.