I am not there and I am not here

Number of pages: 320 This book discusses the works of two of the most prominent cultural figures of the twentieth century, Palestinian-American literary critic Edward Said (1935-2003) and Palestinian poet Mahmoud Darwish (1941-2008), and focuses in particular on formulation and representation in each of their works regarding the topic of identity. It explores the images of this concept in their writings; and compares their two personal viewpoints and their confrontation on various aspects of their identities as Palestinian Arabs and global citizens, which are expressed through their chosen literary mediums; Said’s prose and Darwish’s poetry. At the same time, this analysis of their creative writing will help highlight the complex and ongoing process involved in shaping, maintaining, and perceiving identity and self-image. While each chose a different literary medium for expression, both writers shared a common interest in exploring the subject of identity, an interest driven by their personal experiences of forced separation from their homeland Palestine, and the experience of living as exiles outside the land where they were born for most of their lives, their ongoing travels to different countries, and their dream of returning to Palestine. In addition to the similarities in their personal stories as citizens of Palestine.