More than fifteen years after 9/11, the Middle East continues to make headlines from the point of view of U.S. plans for the region. But when writers in the Middle East (and in a related region, North Africa) pick up their pens, what do they identify as their chief concerns? How do their concerns differ from assumptions made in the West? By examining literature from Middle Eastern and North African countries as diverse as Egypt, Sudan, Iran, Israel, and Saudi Arabia, we will gain insight into how writers in a region that is often defined as "other" define themselves. In this survey course, we will read a wide range of works written in the last fifty years, from those that focus on political and social issues to those whose focus is more personal and individual. Supplementary materials including films, visual art, and scholarly articles will provide a multi-faceted view of the region.

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