What do you think?
Rate this book
Revolt Against the Sun
The Iraqi poet Nazik al-Mala'ika was one of the most important Arab poets of the twentieth century. Over the course of a four-decade career, her contributions to both the theory and the practice of free verse (or tafʿilah) poetry confirmed her position as a pioneer of Arab modernism.
Revolt Against the Sun presents a selection of Nazik al-Malaʾika's poetry in English translation for the first time. Bringing together poems from each of her published collections, it traces al-Malaʾika's transformation from a lyrical Romantic poet in the 1940s to a fervently committed Arab nationalist in the 1970s and 1980s. The translations offer both an overview of her life and work and an insight into the political and social realities in the Arab world in the decades following the Second World War.
Featuring a comprehensive historical and critical introduction, this bilingual reader reveals this groundbreaking poet's role in transforming the landscape of modern Arabic literature and culture in the twentieth century. It is a key resource for students and teachers of Arabic and world literature, as well as for readers interested in discovering an alternative narrative of modern Iraqi culture.
Revolt Against the Sun presents a selection of Nazik al-Malaʾika's poetry in English translation for the first time. Bringing together poems from each of her published collections, it traces al-Malaʾika's transformation from a lyrical Romantic poet in the 1940s to a fervently committed Arab nationalist in the 1970s and 1980s. The translations offer both an overview of her life and work and an insight into the political and social realities in the Arab world in the decades following the Second World War.
Featuring a comprehensive historical and critical introduction, this bilingual reader reveals this groundbreaking poet's role in transforming the landscape of modern Arabic literature and culture in the twentieth century. It is a key resource for students and teachers of Arabic and world literature, as well as for readers interested in discovering an alternative narrative of modern Iraqi culture.
- GenresPoetry
256 pages, Paperback
First published October 29, 2020
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
May 2, 2024
I read this collection and sat for a long while considering what I could possibly add to describe how Nazik can make you feel. Whilst many thanks goes out to Emily for her effort in introducing Nazik to bilingual speaks in the diaspora, such as myself. There is a very specific and characteristic beauty to the Arabic language used that the more translated writings I read the more I realise the English just doesn’t match up.
Nazik speaks to the realist within me, one who doesn't have the luxury of ignoring the horrors and misery happening in the world. She speaks of poverty, death and political dissonance in nations which have been reduced to war ridden destroyed lands of supposedly barbaric people.
In her depiction of her life experiences, she talks of how death surrounded her and her people, how she stares at the sky at dawn silent and powerless. How cholera ravaged through Egypt and in headlines and advertisements in an Arab newspaper Nazik makes me realise how the world has stood still for Arabs. The same wars, the same fight for resources and the western manmade poverty striking nations. It’s as if time despite all has only made life worse for those who have no control even over their own destiny.
I have re-read several poems a few times and every time I read a section again I come to further realisations which I had missed. That’s Nazik’s skill her poetry continues to teach and make you react, even 50 years down the line.
Nazik speaks to the realist within me, one who doesn't have the luxury of ignoring the horrors and misery happening in the world. She speaks of poverty, death and political dissonance in nations which have been reduced to war ridden destroyed lands of supposedly barbaric people.
In her depiction of her life experiences, she talks of how death surrounded her and her people, how she stares at the sky at dawn silent and powerless. How cholera ravaged through Egypt and in headlines and advertisements in an Arab newspaper Nazik makes me realise how the world has stood still for Arabs. The same wars, the same fight for resources and the western manmade poverty striking nations. It’s as if time despite all has only made life worse for those who have no control even over their own destiny.
I have re-read several poems a few times and every time I read a section again I come to further realisations which I had missed. That’s Nazik’s skill her poetry continues to teach and make you react, even 50 years down the line.
March 25, 2021
One of the best collection of poetry I've ever read. Al-Mala'ika has such a way with words and the emotion she evokes with every turning page. I love how this book includes pieces from all of her previous works and I appreciate the English translations.
Mahmoud Darwish said poetry was born in Iraq, and Al Mala'ika's work proves it.
Mahmoud Darwish said poetry was born in Iraq, and Al Mala'ika's work proves it.
January 22, 2022
"She died, but no lips shook, no cheeks turned white
no doors heard her death tale told and retold,
no blinds were raised for sad eyes to behold
the casket as it disappeared from sight.
Only a beggar in the street, consumed
by hunger, heard the echo of her life -
the safe forgetfulness of tombs,
the melancholy of the moon.
The night gave way to morning thoughtlessly,
and light brought with it sound - boys throwing stones,
a hungry, mewling cat, all skin and bones,
the vendors fighting, clashing bitterly,
some people fasting, others wanting more,
polluted water gurgling, and a breeze
playing, alone, upon the door
having almost forgotten her."
// Elegy for a Woman of No Importance
In a critical introduction, Emily Drumsta, editor and translator, points out how for al-Malā'ikah, poetry and music is inseparable and how each poem tells two stories simultaneously, "where poem's narrative content leads us on a journey of the mind, its sound leads us on a journey of the senses, carrying us with its music." She is known for an Arabic form that is misleadingly understood as "free verse". It just isolates the Arabic 'foot' as the basic unit of sound, which remains, altering only in repetitive frequency.
While she originally described her form as this radical departure from tradition, she changes it later, calling it " but merely a reconfiguration of time-honored, authentically 'Arab' rhythms." It was nice to see Drumsta do her best to retain the musical sense of her poems in translation, through rhythm and rhyme, by finding English substitutes for her use of the Arabic foot. It is most visible when the poems are read aloud, her themes accentuated by intrinsic melody, showcasing a complex, effortless sensibility.
(I received a finished copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.)
no doors heard her death tale told and retold,
no blinds were raised for sad eyes to behold
the casket as it disappeared from sight.
Only a beggar in the street, consumed
by hunger, heard the echo of her life -
the safe forgetfulness of tombs,
the melancholy of the moon.
The night gave way to morning thoughtlessly,
and light brought with it sound - boys throwing stones,
a hungry, mewling cat, all skin and bones,
the vendors fighting, clashing bitterly,
some people fasting, others wanting more,
polluted water gurgling, and a breeze
playing, alone, upon the door
having almost forgotten her."
// Elegy for a Woman of No Importance
In a critical introduction, Emily Drumsta, editor and translator, points out how for al-Malā'ikah, poetry and music is inseparable and how each poem tells two stories simultaneously, "where poem's narrative content leads us on a journey of the mind, its sound leads us on a journey of the senses, carrying us with its music." She is known for an Arabic form that is misleadingly understood as "free verse". It just isolates the Arabic 'foot' as the basic unit of sound, which remains, altering only in repetitive frequency.
While she originally described her form as this radical departure from tradition, she changes it later, calling it " but merely a reconfiguration of time-honored, authentically 'Arab' rhythms." It was nice to see Drumsta do her best to retain the musical sense of her poems in translation, through rhythm and rhyme, by finding English substitutes for her use of the Arabic foot. It is most visible when the poems are read aloud, her themes accentuated by intrinsic melody, showcasing a complex, effortless sensibility.
(I received a finished copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.)
May 31, 2026
Esta es la primera colección de poemas que he leido en mi vidaaaaa y no pude quedar mas enamorada 😭😭😭😭💗💗💗💗 ame ame ame 😫 de verdad me quedo sin palabras para describirleeee
February 20, 2022
Possibly the best book I have ever read. Al-Mala'ika's poetry is incredible, combining the emotional confessionalism of romantic poetry with the experimentation with form and imagery that you would expect from the most masterful modernists.
So many great quotes and snippets from this, and such a range of ideas, emotions and styles explored. From political and social commentary, to poems that act as letters to people in her life, and narrative poems written for her children, I loved all of the many modes that Al-Mala'ika used to craft her work.
Really great translation that does a good job of preserving the rhythm and form of the poetry, and a nicely curated selection from this outstanding poet.
So many great quotes and snippets from this, and such a range of ideas, emotions and styles explored. From political and social commentary, to poems that act as letters to people in her life, and narrative poems written for her children, I loved all of the many modes that Al-Mala'ika used to craft her work.
Really great translation that does a good job of preserving the rhythm and form of the poetry, and a nicely curated selection from this outstanding poet.
May 10, 2026
An astonishing collection with an introduction that offers welcome insight into the craft of translation, as well as humble admissions of its shortcomings. And those shortcomings are at times apparent; the attempt to get across the stricter rhythmic patterns with meter and rhyme schemes leads to some dodgy scansion and cringey couplets. But many texts are moving & provocative; the later, formally less restrictive poems work particularly well in translation but there are moments of greatness throughout the whole collection.
April 12, 2026
recomendado pela larica!!
ABSURDO. ABSUUUUUUUUURDO. sou apaixonada
teve um dia que eu tava voltando do trabalho no metro e li um dos poemas e fiquei com uma vontade enorme de tatuar as 17 estrofes nas costas. Mal sabia eu que precisaria reler para relembrar, a tatuagem servindo apenas de performance.
o que eu gostei mesmo do livro mesmo foi o trabalho de tradução apresentando a autora e toda uma biografia sobre ela, isso enriqueceu muito a leitura.
ABSURDO. ABSUUUUUUUUURDO. sou apaixonada
teve um dia que eu tava voltando do trabalho no metro e li um dos poemas e fiquei com uma vontade enorme de tatuar as 17 estrofes nas costas. Mal sabia eu que precisaria reler para relembrar, a tatuagem servindo apenas de performance.
o que eu gostei mesmo do livro mesmo foi o trabalho de tradução apresentando a autora e toda uma biografia sobre ela, isso enriqueceu muito a leitura.
July 1, 2023
One of the most beautiful and profound poetry collections I’ve ever read! Nazik al-Mala’ikah is a singular talent who deserves international recognition. It was wonderful to have it as a bilingual reader and see the poetry in its original language alongside the English
February 23, 2025
arabic poetry is so beautiful and from women poets ??? chefs kiss
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews