Culture and Identity: Selected English Writings of Faiz [Hardcover]

the late Faiz Ahmad Faiz (Author), Sheema Majeed (Author), Muhammad Reza Kazimi (Introduction)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0195979958 | ISBN-13: 978-0195979954 | Publication Date: March 30, 2006

This book is a compilation of Faiz Ahmad Faiz's important English writings. Some of the articles spell out Faiz's well-known predilection for the progressive canons of literature. He could not conceive of art, literature, and culture without relating to the social, political and cultural tensions of the society they seek to portray. He has emphasized the relationship between super-structure and the scoio-politico-economic structure. One may not agree with him on certain points but the tone and tenor of his arguments reflects the kind of person he was, cool and unflappable. Some articles come under the category 'applied criticism'. Articles on Amir Khusrau, Ghalib, Tolstoy, and Sadequain figure prominently. His article on Iqbal, if translated into Urdu, is perhaps the best article on Iqbal as a poet. One could only wish that he could devote more attention to Urdu criticism. His interviews have discussed in passing certain trends and issues, which required discursive and deep discussions. Anyhow, even the 'hints' and cursory allusions to important writers in his articles could become turning points in the writings of those writers who take their cues from these hints and amplify them.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"This commendable volume is not only an unexpected and valuable addition to the list of books by Faiz but also a useful contribution to the field of Pakistan studies."--Mahir Ali, DAWN Books & Authors

About the Author

Sheema Majeed is one of the most renowned literary researchers and bibliophiles of Pakistan. She has compiled and published more than fifteen books of some of our best literati and intellectuals. Among some important literary treasures she has unearthed are the Baqiaat-e-Miraji as well as the Urdu literary criticism of Faiz under the title Maqalat-e-Faiz (Lahore, 1994) and Maqalat-e-Rashid (Islamabad, 2002). Sheema Majeed has proved to be the mainstay of eminent literary scholars who otherwise would have sunk into oblivion.
Muhammad Reza Kazimi was born in Mumbai (1945) and migrated to Kolkata in his childhood, where he was able to witness the literary scene closely. Later in Karachi (1968 onwards) he published literary criticism such as Jadeed Urdu Marthia (1981), with a chapter on Faiz Ahmed Faiz; Taab-e-Sukhan (1994), a critique on literary critics themselves, and Nuqoosh-e-Josh (1995) studies of the revolutionary poet Josh Malihabadi. A stylistic and ideological analysis of Faiz Ahmed Faiz's poetry is to appear in his next critical collection. He is also the author of Liaquat Ali Khan: His Life and Work (OUP, 2003).

Product Details

• Hardcover: 252 pages
• Publisher: Oxford University Press, USA (March 30, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0195979958
• ISBN-13: 978-0195979954
• Product Dimensions: 8.6 x 5.8 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,573,013 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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