Nine Alexandrias

by Semezdin Mehmedinović, Ammiel Alcalay (Translation)

Translated from the Bosnian with an introduction by Ammiel Alcalay Following his depiction of Bosnia under siege in the much celebrated Sarajevo Blues , Semezdin Mehmedinovic´ now explores the vast space of his new continent. Mostly written in response to a cross-country journey by train in post 9-11 America, Mehmedinovic´’s Nine Alexandrias provides a poetry of witness and testimony of a very different order. In this nightmarish and exhilarating odyssey, Mehmedinovic´’s political acuity is displayed everywhere but barely pronounced. In Washington, D.C., his new home, the graphic and tactile affirmation of life amidst horror depicted so masterfully in Sarajevo Blues , turns into an eerie silence that permeates both the expanse of the land and the heart of the American empire. Semezdin Mehmedinovic´ was born in Tuzla, Bosnia in 1960 and is the author of five books. Mehmedinovic´ arrived in the U.S. as a political refugee in 1996, and he is currently living in Alexandria, Virginia.

Genres: Poetry

98 pages, Paperback

First published September 1, 2003

About the author

Semezdin Mehmedinović is a well known Bosnian writer, filmmaker, and magazine editor. His book "Sarajevo Blues" was praised by Washington Post as one of the best books which document war in Bosnia.

Reviews

[J.L. Huffman · Rating 5 out of 5]

From the author of Sarajevo Blues, a book in three sections: the first is a poetic journey across the US via train through the eyes of an immigrant. The second section, "This Door Is Not An Exit," was based on a photo by the poet's son and the idea that they did not own a home; the third addresses the almighty Cadillac. All are thoughtful and poignant.

[Cooper Renner · Rating 3 out of 5]

Quiet observations, prose broken into lines for the most part—which is to say that Bosnian poetry seems to be much like American poetry.

[Vildana Karalic-Avdic · Rating 3 out of 5]

Just another proof I am definitely not a poetry fan. Also, I couldn’t stop thinking that I should have been reading this book in Bosnian.

[Dina Coutu · Rating 3 out of 5]

Some I liked, some I didn't. I really am not the best person to review poetry so don't go off of mine.