The poet Anwar Al Attar was born in Damascus in 1913 and died there in 1972. His first volume of poetry Zilal Al Ayyam (The Days’ Shadows) was published in 1948 and republished in 2013. His last poetry volume, entitled Rubaiyat Anwar Al Attar, Allamatni Al Hayat (Quartettes- Life Taught Me), was published in 2015. His Complete Works, for both Poetry and Prose were published in two volumes in 2020.
His poetry had been greatly influenced by the French Romantics and by Al Buhtori, who was one of the prominent poets of the Abbasid Period as well as Ahmad Shawki, the “Arab Poetry Prince”. His poetry is still admired and read all over the Arab World. Some of his works have been translated into the English and French and were set to music.
This presentation will highlight his poetical talent and literary style, with a focus on his ability to combine his emotions of love, with the beautiful nature of his city Damascus. This event will be given by the poet’s son, who will present his father’s life journey as it is reflected in his poetry.
Sponsored by: The Ohio State University’s International Area Studies Department, the Department of Near Eastern Languages & Cultures, and the Middle East Center at Ohio State University.
For information on this lecture, please contact Magda El-Sherbini, Middle East and Islamic Studies Librarian at el-sherbini.1@osu.edu
