The Miracle of Emile Habiby's Pessoptimist

摘要: This article argues that the ideological blockade in U.S. academy against any assertion of pan-Arab nationalism is most transparent when it comes to Palestinian writers. A consequence more than forty years pro-Israel propaganda aimed at discrediting and silencing right self-determination, Pale stinian abyss American academic cultural studies also its twentieth-century world literature curricula best illustrated by invisibility Emile Habiby's internationaly celebrated novel The Secret Life Saeed, Ill-Fated Pessoptimist . Written Arabic originaly published Haifa 1974, self-ironic wickedly sarcastic postmodernist pastiche quickly became a classic modern tradition and, after translation into English, named critics masterpiece. For people themselves, from Diaspora those living inside Israel milions still under occupation West Bank Gaza, signifies beginnings distinctive national literary form. purpose this critique appreciate logic on own terms, but liberate his masterpiece Zionist corral—to project outward other nations, peoples, intellectual styles. In task, special emphasis placed trickster figure, Juha , who, while completely singular origin meaning folklore, has several compelling counterparts literature, particular African Signifyin' Monkey. From double-critique—establishing once singularity figure opening up worldly comparisons—a new concept offered, what author terms "the blues Palestine." used illuminate iconoclastic narrative style, understand extremely complex multi-voicedness text itself.