Islam and New Directions in World Literature

An Islamicate turn in world literature? Introduced in the 1970s, Islamicate never seemed likely as a descriptor supplanting Muslim and Islamic, but its ascent now seems imminent due to this sparkling collection of essays, from the Mediterranean to the Indian Ocean, with fresh insight and apt analysis in every chapter.

Like the regions of the map on this book's cover, the places the contributors take us to have long been there but have remained largely uncharted—until now. By bringing together important interventions on the world literature of Islam, Bin Tyeer and Gallien are showing— and leading—the way.

A pioneering contribution that challenges conventional frameworks of world literature by centering the literary Islamicate and advocating for a critical reconfiguration of its relationship with the global literary canon. The editors propose a more expansive conceptualization of world literature, predicated on a comprehensive geographical and chronological coverage of all literary dimensions. The significance of this volume lies in [...] effectively repositioning the literary Islamicate as a distinct modality of world literature. [...] Redefining the contours of world literature by incorporating perspectives from literatures of the Islamicate resonates strongly with calls for decolonisation in global literary studies. Whilst it critically assesses prevailing methodologies and how source texts are selected, it also offers innovative theoretical frameworks that promise to shape the future of the field. Ultimately, this collection of essays constitutes an essential read for researchers interested in reimagining world literature beyond imperialist legacies, hegemonic frames, and academic gatekeeping.