Reading Mohamed Choukri’s Narratives: Hunger in Eden

Reading Mohamed Choukri’s Narratives presents an intricate exploration into the life and literary universe of Mohamed Choukri, a towering figure in 20th-century Moroccan literature. Known primarily for his groundbreaking autobiographical work ＂al-Khubz al-Ḥāfī＂ (For Bread Alone), Choukri’s literary influence extends well beyond this single work. This book seeks to cast a light on his broader body of work, examining the cultural, societal, and personal influences that shaped his unique storytelling style. Through a deep analysis of his narratives, this text aims to unfold how Choukri portrayed the harsh realities he and others encountered, giving voice to the marginalized individuals and communities in Morocco.

Jonas Elbousty holds an MPhil and a Ph.D. from Columbia University. He teaches at Yale University where he is the Director of Undergraduate Studies. His publications include Vitality and Dynamism (Leiden University Press, 2015), Advanced Arabic Literary Reader (Routledge Press, 2016), Media Arabic (Routledge Press, 2021), Aswat Muasira (Georgetown University Press, 2023), Tales of Tangier (Yale University Press, 2023), and two forthcoming books, Screams of War (Seagull books 2024) and Faces (Georgetown University Press, 2024)

Roger Allen retired in June 2011 after serving for 43 years as Professor of Arabic and Comparative Literature at the University of Pennsylvania. In 2009-10 he was President of the Middle East Studies Association of North America. He is the author of numerous studies in book and article form devoted to the Arabic literary tradition and is also a translator of numerous contributions to the tradition of both modern and pre-modern Arabic narrative.