Eating Words, Food in Modern Arabic Literature

Abstract

How is food portrayed in Arabic novels? In literature, food is more than mere sustenance—it carries layered meanings. This multilingual collection brings together experts in Arabic literature to examine the complex representations of food and eating. Through themes such as dining rituals, foodstuffs, animal consumption, memory, food habits, and hunger, the content of each chapter intersects with literary criticism on food but is uniquely shaped by the Arab world’s local settings and customs. Offering perspectives that reach beyond literature, this book provides a nuanced view of Arab culture and society, inviting readers to explore the multiple significations of food. Contributors: Tania Al Saadi, Ada Barbaro, Sobhi Boustani, Martina Censi, Peter Dové, Hartmut Fähndrich, Gonzalo Fernández Parrilla, Ana Gonzalez Navarro, Felix Lang, Astrid Ottosson al-Bitar, and Heidi Toelle.