Theme and coherence in arabesques by anton shammas. Theme and coherence in arabesques by simply anton shammas essay. This novel tells a captivating story about the complex lives of palestinian christians, which is centered on shammas upbringing. In 1986, anton shammas hebrewlanguage novel arabesques was published in israel. Here was shammas, an arab writer, writing in the language of israels majority. Theme and coherence in arabesques by anton shammas annmicha. Fine in fine dustwrapper with spine lightly sunned. Anton shammas depicts a gloomier and more realist view of palestine than that of the zionists, especially in his acclaimed book, arabesques 1986. Apr 27, 2001 anton shammas, the first arab to write a novel in hebrew, has given us a riveting look at a people we hear too little about. Theme and coherence in arabesques by simply anton shammas. Shammas is the first christian palestinian to write in hebrew, and his family tale mingles with the lore of his displaced group. Anton shammas is a palestinian writer, poet and translator of arabic, hebrew and english.
Defining himself not just legally but also culturally as an israeli, he has said that the book is his real identity cardthough a careful reading of arabesques may persuade one that this identity card is not so readily decipherable. Shammas describes himself as an israeli arab an ambiguous, problematic identity which is the subject of his novel. Anton shammass novel arabesques was published ten years earlier, in 1986. Arabesques was chosen as one of the best books of 1988 by the available again, arabesques is a classic, complex novel of identity, memory, and history in the middle east and points beyond. Arabesques theme and coherence in arabesques by anton shammas annmicha blugh college. On the top left corner of the screen, a paused clip featuring anton zooms out. Anton shammas was one of six children born to a palestinian father and a lebanese mother, who moved to fassuta in northern palestine in 1937 to teach at the local girls school. May 16, 2018 anton shammas depicts a gloomier and more realist view of palestine than that of the zionists, especially in his acclaimed book, arabesques 1986. Shammass use of the novel as the platform in which his autobiography is told goes against all preconceptions of how an autobiography is normally written. For several years, he was coeditor of an arabic monthly literary magazine. His first and largely autobiographical novel, arabesques, is, as its title only begins. Arabesques was written by palestinian author anton shammas and was published during 2001. Anton shammas chronicles his life as an israeli christian arab, dramatizing the bitter clash of traditions in a village on the galilee just after 1948 and his search for personal identity, which leads through paris to its climax in iowa city. It is translated into eight languages including english, french, german, spanish and italian hebrew.
Contemporary background, literary genre arabisraeli turmoil, novel the actual elements of ornement 1986, written by anton shammas, explains the. Arabesques is a book part novel, part memoirby anton shammas that traces the complexities of the authors family history and homeland in the tale sections. Available again, arabesques is a classic, complex novel of identity, mem. The theme of otherness is an essential element of arabesques and in many ways defines the protagonist and the narrative voice. This essay explores the possibility that anton shammass novel arabesques 1986 tentatively gestures towards what might be described as a. Numerous and frequentlyupdated resource results are available from this search.
Oclcs webjunction has pulled together information and resources to assist. A novel by anton shammas and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. Shammas is the first arab to write a novel in hebrew, he looks at palestinian christians and writes. Anton shammas was born in the arab village of fassuta in upper galilee in 1950. Yaakov shabtais 1977 novel past continuous, for example, hailed as a masterpiece within israel. Anton shammas is a palestinian poet and author, essayist and translator of arabic, hebrew and english. He details the macabre nature of wars, hostility, brokenness, toxicomania, attesting to a nation dizzy in turmoil, mystery, and confusion.
His novel, arabesques, has been translated into nine languages. Through a network of memories, shammas tells the story of an arab christian family currently living in a galilean village. Smith, palestine and the arabisraeli conflict photocopies recommended readings browse and read arabesques a novel anton shammas. Intertextoaliot ve zheot postcolonialit be arabesques shel anton shammas to throw a soda can into bialiks pool. In 1962, the family moved to haifa where shammas studied in an integrated jewisharab high school.
He lived in jerusalem for 20 and studied english literature and art history at the hebrew university of jerusalem. Defining himself not just legally but also culturally as an israeli, he has said that the book is his real identity cardthough a careful reading of arabesques may persuade one that this identity card is not so. Sep 18, 1988 anton shammas is a 38yearold israeli writer, a young writer by the standards of his culture, if not ours. He is the author of three books of poetry in hebrew and arabic. His purpose, technique, and message are intertwined with the theme of arabesques. Arabesques english and hebrew edition 9780060157449. His purpose, technique, and message are intertwined with the theme of. Arabesques was chosen as one of the best books of 1988 by the editors of the new york. Be the first to download this book and let read by finish. Arabeskot notesthere is no toc and back cover to book. During his youth, he studied at an integrated jewisharab. He is well known for the novel arabesques, written in hebrew and chronically the history of the shammas family in both palestine, israel and lebanon. Hebrew and the israeli arabs independent australian.
One memory hooks to another in an atfirst random pattern covering the 1860s to the present, and the fragmented. Apr 01, 1986 anton shammas, the first arab to write a novel in hebrew, has given us a riveting look at a people we hear too little about. In the novels arabesques by anton shammas and persepolis by marjane satrapi, autobiographical narrative is created through the use of unconventional styles of writing. Arabesques, a novel by anton shammas 9780520228320. Arabesques, a novel by anton shammas 9780520228320 booktopia. Anton shammas is a 38yearold israeli writer, a young writer by the standards of his culture, if not ours. Knowing the elements of arabesques 1986, authored by anton shammas, clarifies the meaning of the ancient art form as well as enlightens the reader on the significance of the novel. Publication date 1989 topics palestinian arabs publisher new york. Anton shammas, was an arab writing in hebrew, his stepmother tongue. That the publisher lists this in the literaturemiddle eastern studies categories on the book jacket suggests that theres some extraliterary dimension to shammass admittedly autobiographical story. That the publisher lists this in the literaturemiddle eastern studies categories on the book jacket suggests that theres some extraliterary dimension to shammas s admittedly autobiographical story. His book, arabesques, startled israeli jewish read ers when it was. The punning of arabesque fits the heterogeneous design of the book.
The early pages of arabesques invite us to think that the book is closer to autobiography than to fiction. His acclaimed hebrew novel arabesques 1986 was translated into eight languages, including english, spanish, french, german, italian, although. During his youth, he studied at an integrated jewisharab high school while in haifa. I think every book i read for pleasure might become research read in a way, currently i am reading three books. A few pages into the novel, the novels protagonistnarrator and authors name. A very important contributory factor behind the sensation the book was causing was the fact that its author, anton shammas, was an arab writing in hebrew, his stepmother tongue. The novel created a splash when it first came out in the 80s.
Arabesques english and hebrew edition by shammas, anton and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. Available again, arabesques is a classic, complex novel of identity, memory, and history in the middle east and points beyondincluding iowa and new york city. This book is a history of its authors youth, although its immediacy reaches farther back in time than the life it is rendering, and becomes the memoir of a family and a fabled region galilee. Anton shammas is a christian arab born in the galilee who has written his first novel in hebrew. May 07, 2001 anton shammas, the first arab to write a novel in hebrew, has given us a riveting look at a people we hear too little about. Anton shammas, the first arab to write a novel in hebrew, has given us a riveting look at a people we hear too little about. Arabesques is a classic of the exploration of identity. Anton shammas is an arab, a member of a people who at. Arabesques by anton shammas meet your next favorite book. Reliable information about the coronavirus covid19 is available from the world health organization current situation, international travel. In 1968, shammas moved to jerusalem and studied english and arabic literature and art history at the hebrew. A palestinian master of hebrew, living at the seam between jews and arabs, between the ancient and the modern, between loyalties and appetites, shammas has written beautifully about his. Anton shammas banipal uk magazine of modern arab literature. Refreshing debut fiction, translated from the original hebrew, intertwining the family history of an arab christian family with regional palestinian lore.
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