GR285.S64

- Includes bibliographical references - Includes an index of Folk Motifs, index of footnotes, and a list of tales by type - Includes a key to references and a note to transliteration - Arabic edition (translation, 2001) of the book is available at DAK College Library

- The Tales -- Notes on presentation and translation -- Group I - Individuals ---- Children and Parents ---- Siblings ---- Sexual Awakening and Courtship ---- The Quest for the Spouse -- Group II - Family ---- Brides and Bridegrooms ---- Husbands and Wives ---- Family Life -- Group III - Society -- Group IV - Environment -- Group V - Universe - Folkloristic Analysis

Were it simply a collection of fascinating, previously unpublished folktales, "Speak, Bird, Speak Again" would merit a good deal of praise and attention because of its cultural rather that political approach to Palestinian studies. But it is much more than this. By combining their respective expertise in English literature and anthropology, Ibrahim Muhawi and Sharif Kanaana bring to these tales an integral method of study that unites a sensitivity to language with a deep appreciation for culture. Furthermore, by presenting the tales in relation to their context, Muhawi and Kanaana offer a remarkebly comprehensive portrait of Palestinian Arab culture, highlights the role of women both in the society and in the transmission of folklore traditions. As native Palestinians, the authors are well suited to their task. Over the course of several years they collected tales in the regions of the Galilee, Gaza, and the West Bank, determining which were the most widely known and appreciated and selecting the ones best represented the Palestinian Arab folk narrative tradition. Great care has been taken with the translations to maintain the original flavor, humor, and cultura; nuances of tales that are at once earthy and whimsical. The authors have also provided extensive motif index, and a thorough analytic guide to parallel tales in the larger Arab tradition in folk narrative. "Speak, Bird, Speak Again" is an essential guide to Palestinian culture and a must for those who want to deepen their understanding of a troubled, enduring people. Ibrahim Muhawi is Professor of English at the University of Tunis. Sharif Kanaana is Associate Professor of Anthropology at Birzeit University.