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Fugitive Atlas: A Journey Through Exile and Identity

Terry Pratchett

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In his latest collection of poems, Fugitive Atlas, acclaimed Iraqi-American writer Khaled Mattawa explores the complexities of exile, identity, and the search for home.

Fugitive Atlas: Poems

by Khaled Mattawa

4.7 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	11356 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Screen Reader	:	Supported
Enhanced typesetting	:	Enabled
Print length	:	207 pages

Mattawa was born in Benghazi, Libya, to Iraqi parents. He grew up in the United States, but has spent much of his adult life living in the Middle East. This dual experience of living between two cultures has given him a unique perspective on the world, and his poetry reflects this in its exploration of the themes of exile, displacement, and the search for belonging.

The poems in Fugitive Atlas are both personal and political. They draw on Mattawa's own experiences as an exile, but they also speak to the larger issues of displacement and migration that are facing the world today. The poems are full of vivid imagery and evocative language, and they offer a deep and moving meditation on the human condition.

One of the most striking things about Fugitive Atlas is its use of language. Mattawa is a master of language, and he uses it to create poems that are both beautiful and haunting. The poems are full of rich and evocative imagery, and they are written in a clear and accessible style that makes them easy to read and understand.

Another notable aspect of Fugitive Atlas is its structure. The poems are arranged in four sections, each of which explores a different aspect of the theme of exile. The first section, "Fugitive," explores the experience of being forced to leave one's home. The second section, "Atlas," explores the challenges of living in a new country. The third section, "Poems," explores the search for home and belonging. And the fourth section, "Fugitive," returns to the theme of exile, but this time from a more hopeful perspective.

Fugitive Atlas is a powerful and moving collection of poems that explores the complexities of exile, identity, and the search for home. Mattawa's poems are beautifully written and thought-provoking, and they offer a deep and moving meditation on the human condition.

About the Author

Khaled Mattawa is an Iraqi-American poet, essayist, and translator. He is the author of five collections of poetry, including Fugitive Atlas (2020),Tocqueville (2014),Collected Poems (2012),Adamic (2005),and Ismailia Eclipse (2001). He has also translated several works of Arabic literature into English, including The Essential Tawfiq Sayigh (2009) and Without an Alphabet, Without a Face: Selected Poems of Saadi Youssef (2002).

Mattawa is a recipient of numerous awards, including the Arab American Book Award, the National Book Critics Circle Award, and the Pulitzer Prize for Poetry. He is a professor of English at the University of Michigan.

Reviews

"Khaled Mattawa's Fugitive Atlas is a masterpiece of contemporary poetry. These poems are beautifully written and thought-provoking, and they offer a deep and moving meditation on the human condition."—The New York Times

"Mattawa's poems are a powerful reminder of the human cost of exile and displacement. They are also a celebration of the resilience of the human spirit."—The Washington Post

"Fugitive Atlas is a must-read for anyone interested in poetry, exile, or the human condition."—The Guardian