Essay Photos by Mai Al-Nakib / Courtesy of the author Civilizations, empires, dynasties, and monarchies end, leaving behind ruins of their fabled splendor. Traces of achievements become more or less decipherable, contingent upon the mercy of elements and vagaries of time. Global ascents have been awesome. The point, however, is that no matter how accomplished or established the power, no matter how seemingly eternal, its passing is guaranteed. In the shadow of World War II, Walter Benjamin described the angel of history with his face turned toward the past: “Where we perceive a chain of events, he sees one single catastrophe which keeps piling wreckage upon wreckage.” Unlike most of us, the angel of history takes the long view. He bears witness to the rising debris, which periodically may initiate a state of emergency, such as genocide or war. Whether this state of emergency brings about radical transformation or more of the same cannot be determined in advance. A cursory archaeology of our planetary ruins reveals the latter to be the case more frequently. Any citizen of a failing nation-state adopting the angel of history’s long view must ask herself a series of sobering questions. Given its recent past, the parameters of its present, and the constitution of its population and leadership, how likely is it that the kind of sweeping change a country needs in order to survive will occur? Have the sacrifices of the many over... Continue reading at 'World Literature Today'
[ World Literature Today | 2021-07-07 12:48:10 UTC ]
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Thirty high-profile former members of Women in Publishing reflect on how the group empowered women in the industry in the 1970s and '80s in an oral history being made available at the British Library. Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2018-03-29 00:00:00 UTC ]
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The novelist and scholar discusses the distinct literary characters of the three Baltic nations. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly
[ Publishers Weekly | 2018-03-23 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Book fairs can find themselves in the middle of shifting geopolitics. At the just-closed Salon du Livre in Paris, the French president sidestepped a visit to Russia's Country of Honor stand. The post Politics in Paris: Russia’s Country of Honor Stint at the Salon du Livre Reflects Strained... Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives
[ Publishing Perspectives | 2018-03-20 00:00:00 UTC ]
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'When nativism, populism, and xenophobia are on the march,' the British Academy's Al-Rodhan Prize has timely currency in the 2018 prize year. And US-based booksellers will travel to Frankfurter Buchmesse and the Turin Book Fair on Bookselling Without Borders scholarships. The post Accepting... Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives
[ Publishing Perspectives | 2018-01-25 00:00:00 UTC ]
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The Minnesota Senator and former comedian has canceled two major appearances promoting his new memoir, 'Al Franken: Giant of the Senate,' in the wake of sexual misconduct allegations. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly
[ Publishers Weekly | 2017-11-21 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Publishers and agents report positive meetings and rights sales, and Frankfurt responds to political disputes by reaffirming its commitment to freedom of expression. The post Frankfurt Book Fair: Booming Business for Trade Visitors, Reflections of German Politics Play Out appeared first on... Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives
[ Publishing Perspectives | 2017-10-20 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Drawn from an 'eclectic mix of innovation' and from 10 countries, the 2017 FutureBook Award shortlists showcase work in traditional and startup publishing. The post FutureBook Award Shortlists Reflect Diversity in Publishing Innovation appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives
[ Publishing Perspectives | 2017-10-16 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Kids these days apparently want to read books that reflect their lives. So following that whole supply-and-demand thing we all learned in Economics 101, Kirkus is giving the people what they want. They’ve just launched Kirkus Collections, which brings together Young Adult and children’s lit... Continue reading at Fast Company
[ Fast Company | 2017-09-13 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Calling for 'a more open dialogue regionally and internationally,' Bodour Al Qasimi accepts UNESCO's designation of Sharjah as World Book City 2019. The post Bokova and Al Qasimi Certify Sharjah as UNESCO World Book City 2019 appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives
[ Publishing Perspectives | 2017-08-11 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Calling for 'a more open dialogue regionally and internationally,' Bodour Al Qasimi accepts UNESCO's designation of Sharjah as World Book Capital 2019. The post Bokova and Al Qasimi Certify Sharjah as UNESCO World Book Capital 2019 appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives
[ Publishing Perspectives | 2017-08-11 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Benjamin G Wilson, selected for Penguin Random House's WriteNow 2016 programme, reflects on the scheme. Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2017-07-15 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Al Franken's humor is back at full strength in his new book, which is a memoir of the former 'Saturday Night Live' writer's journey to the NBC institution and his more recent time in politics. Continue reading at The Christian Science Monitor
[ The Christian Science Monitor | 2017-06-30 00:00:00 UTC ]
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As suggested by the Sharjah Children’s Reading Festival’s slogan, ‘Discover a Lifelong Friend,’ Ahmed Al Ameri sees early-age immersion as crucial. By Dennis Abrams | @DennisAbrams2 ‘The Reading Habit Is Increasing’ he United Arab Emirates’ Ahmed bin Rakkad Al Ameri is chairman of Sharjah Book... Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives
[ Publishing Perspectives | 2017-04-25 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Dear World, which will recount the young Twitter activist’s experience of war and flight from her war-torn home, is scheduled for autumn releaseA seven-year-old Syrian refugee whose tweets from war-torn Aleppo won her a global following is set to write a book. Bana al-Abed’s Dear World will... Continue reading at The Guardian
[ The Guardian | 2017-04-13 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Blackwell’s losses deepened in its last financial year, with the move of one of its flagship campus shops in Manchester to a temporary venue a contributing factor. Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2017-03-18 00:00:00 UTC ]
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BookExpo has invited Senator Al Franken and comedian Marc Maron to appear on a panel discussing politics and their forthcoming books. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly
[ Publishers Weekly | 2017-02-24 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Celebrated comics writer G. Willow Wilson pays tribute to literary icon Margaret Atwood and her geeky love of superhero comics, and to Volume 2 of Atwood's delightful superhero graphic novel, 'Angel Catbird.' Continue reading at Publishers Weekly
[ Publishers Weekly | 2017-02-08 00:00:00 UTC ]
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A new novel is based on the author for which the Jalal Al-e Ahmad Literary Awards are named. Bairami's 'Barren' is set in 1982. The post Iran’s Jalal Al-e Ahmad Literary Award Goes to Mohammadreza Bairami appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives
[ Publishing Perspectives | 2017-01-10 00:00:00 UTC ]
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In snowy Moscow, the ‘non/fictioNo 18′ fair saw nearly 300 exhibitors this year amid publishers’ talk of improving business. By Eugene Gerden Exhibitors Represent 20 Nations he 18th International Moscow Book Fair for Fiction and Nonfiction—dubbed “non/fictioNo. 18″—was held November 30 to... Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives
[ Publishing Perspectives | 2016-12-15 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Sphere has acquired The Ruin by debut author Dervla McTiernan in a two-book deal with Curtis Brown. Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2016-12-06 00:00:00 UTC ]
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