The Arab world has a vibrant and rich literary scene. At Al Majalla, we highlight some of our favourite weekly picks—from philosophy and history to science, politics and literature.
Let's get right to it.
Book: On Love and Language
Author: Etel Adnan/Fawaz Traboulsi
Publisher: Riad El-Rayyes Books & Publishing - Lebanon
The late writer Etel Adnan was one of the most celebrated Arab American authors before her death in 2021, but she never penned a work titled On Love and Language. Instead, this is a book prepared, translated, and presented by the Lebanese writer and translator Fawaz Traboulsi. It comprises a collection of texts that Adnan published in the quarterly magazine Bidayyat (2012-22), which Traboulsi edited. The book includes a final conversation Traboulsi had with Adnan in her final days.
Through this work, readers can explore Adnan’s multifaceted personality and gain insight into her approach to writing, art, and life. Her contributions—written mainly in French and English—span novels, poetry, theatre, biography, memoirs, correspondence, and art criticism. Adnan was also a visual artist and, as noted in the book, when she painted, she “painted in Arabic”.
Her passion for knowledge and deep contemplation never ebbed. Aged 96, she was still discussing topics such as ‘Nietzsche and the eternal lute’, and ‘matter and colour’, as she did during her last interview with Traboulsi. He interprets this as a gesture of gratitude toward the teacher Gaston Bachelard, under whom she studied philosophy in Paris at age 20.
Bachelard spent his life reconciling ‘science and poetry, matter and imagination,’ a pursuit Adnan shared in her quest to interweave philosophy, art, poetry, and human connection. She saw life as “a fabric”. A feminist activist, Adnan, believed that “woman is what man lost since Adam and the female represents the absence in the male, for which men spend ages striving to recover”.
She was also a staunch advocate for freedom, including for Palestinians, and was one of the first Arab poets to connect the plight of Native Americans with that of Palestinians. She also endorsed the Syrian revolution of 2011, famously saying Syria had “two rivers: the Euphrates and a river of blood”. It was a poignant reference to the massacres committed by the regime.
Likewise, Adnan protested French colonialism in Algeria by choosing to stop writing in French during the struggle for independence. This book stands as a testament to Traboulsi's deep love and evident respect for Adnan and dutifully honours her work.
Book: Being and Meaning: Approaches and Illuminations under the Microscope of Existential Philosophy
Author: Aws Hassan
Publisher: Mominoun Without Borders – Morocco
After a long time, existential philosophy makes its comeback into the Arab literary world with Iraqi author Aws Hassan's latest book. Once prominent and influential, existentialism still addresses enduring questions about human existence, and as Hassan shows, many people live by seeking balance, trying to maximise pleasure and minimise pain.
In contrast, existentialism says the purpose of life is not happiness but the creation of meaning—especially through experiencing tension and struggle. Humanity is the central value of existence, with each individual compelled to make choices, even in the most difficult and destructive circumstances. As such, existentialism is the philosophy of the courageous, requiring the confrontation of pain, fear, and uncertainty while embracing one’s raw emotions and a willingness to face danger.
Hassan’s book delves into key figures of existentialism, including Søren Kierkegaard, Fyodor Dostoevsky, Friedrich Nietzsche, Nikolai Berdyaev, and Albert Camus. Each has their own thoughts, with Nietzsche known for his concept of the Übermensch, Berdyaev exploring the idea of solitude, and Camus’ insight into the absurd.
The book focuses particularly on Martin Heidegger and Colin Wilson. Each gets their own chapter, reflecting a wide range of literary, philosophical, and intellectual perspectives. Hassan adopts a literary style in his discussions rather than the typical expository style often found in philosophical texts. This suits its purpose, which is less about formal instruction or critique and more about engaging the reader on a deep, spiritual, and human level.
