In Naguib Mahfouz’s World In Naguib Mahfouz’s World
Through his massive corpus, the Egyptian novelist helped capture the startling pace and steep costs of a nation in pursuit of independence.
Oct 25, 2018 / Books & the Arts / Ursula Lindsey
The Peregrinations of Raja Shehadeh The Peregrinations of Raja Shehadeh
After the loss of his father and the failure of Oslo, the Palestinian activist turned to writing in order to continue crossing into those territories that became increasingly off l...
Nov 29, 2017 / Books & the Arts / Ursula Lindsey
‘Why So Much Cruelty?’ ‘Why So Much Cruelty?’
Tunisia’s Truth and Dignity Commission is unique in the Arab world. But is the country too small a place to tell the truth about human-rights abuses?
Aug 11, 2017 / Ursula Lindsey
’Til Kingdom Come ’Til Kingdom Come
How long can Morocco’s political system withstand demands for change?
Nov 8, 2016 / Feature / Ursula Lindsey
Behind the Sun Behind the Sun
In four books about Syria and Egypt, the narrative arc of revolution bends toward disappointment.
Sep 6, 2016 / Books & the Arts / Ursula Lindsey
Cairo: A Museum of Ghosts Cairo: A Museum of Ghosts
A visit to the Egyptian capital while government crackdowns are forcing many of its writers and artists to find a way out.
Mar 2, 2016 / Books & the Arts / Ursula Lindsey
The Future of the Arab The Future of the Arab
Riad Sattouf’s biting graphic memoir ignores the big picture of politics in the Middle East and focuses instead on daily life and the imposition of authority through violence.
Jan 27, 2016 / Books & the Arts / Ursula Lindsey
Standing Up for Migrant Workers in the Gulf, 1 Installation at a Time Standing Up for Migrant Workers in the Gulf, 1 Installation at a Time
For the artists in the activist group Gulf Labor, the Guggenheim Abu Dhabi epitomizes the conquest of art by corporate interests.
Nov 9, 2015 / Dispatch / Ursula Lindsey
A Stage Across the Sea A Stage Across the Sea
An unjustly-neglected Libyan novelist captured the twisted logic of colonialism, past and present.
Oct 1, 2015 / Books & the Arts / Ursula Lindsey