This collection, compiled by Nassar (modern Arabic culture and literature, Yale U.) and Rahman (comparative literature, U. of Montreal, Canada), contains 12 essays that examine the work, from earlier to recent, of Palestinian poet Mahmoud Darwish. Arabic literature scholars from around the world consider--after a historical overview of modern Arabic poetry--themes especially of home and exile, but also of images of Palestine, meta-poetry and meta-myth, the Arab city, the image of the father, myths, and the love poem. A recent interview with Darwish concludes the book. A few of the essays have been translated. The volume originated in a panel at the Middle East Studies Association conference in 2004. Annotation ©2008 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)