The chapters collected in this book showcase diverse thematic and methodological perspectives pursued by scholars of different generations and traditions, which constitutes an important added value. Together they reflect the richness of contemporary Arabic prose, which, like classical poetry, has become a new dīwān al-ʿArab. They also highlight the methodological diversity of literary research in Arab studies, demonstrating both its potential and its cultural limitations–limitations which transdisciplinary approaches can successfully transcend, particularly in the study of African and Asian cultures.

From the Introduction