May Muzaffar

May Muzaffar (born 1940; Arabic: مظفر, مي) is a Jordan-based Iraqi poet, short story writer, translator, and editor.

Early life and education

May Muzaffar was born in Baghdad, Iraq, in 1940.^[1][2][3] She attended the University of Baghdad, where she studied English literature.^[4]

Writing

Muzaffar is known for her work as a writer of poetry and short stories, as well as literary criticism.^[5][6] She has produced five story collections, including Al Baja (1973).^[2][5][6] In addition, she has published five poetry collections, including Layliyyat ("Nocturnes," 1994), Barid al-Sharq ("Mail from the Orient," 2003), and Ghiyab ("Absence," 2014).^[4][5][6]

Her work has been published in English translation, including in the 2000 collection The Poetry of Arab Women A Contemporary Anthology.^[5][6][7] She has also written nonfiction, including a biography of the writer Nasir al-Din al-Asad.^[6]

She has also worked as a translator and editor. Her translations into Arabic include poetry from Ted Hughes and Etel Adnan, and she has served as a contributing editor to the Bahraini literary journal Thaqafat.^[5][6]

Her writing from the 1970s to 1990 is seen as an important example of Iraqi women writers prevailing despite state censorship and discrimination.^[8] In 1991, she left Iraq for Amman, Jordan, where she continues to reside and work, as part of a wave of Iraqi writers and artists who emigrated in this period.^[6][9][10]

Personal life

May Muzaffar was married to the late Iraqi artist Rafa al-Nasiri.^[6] The couple often collaborated, including on the poetry collection/art book From That Distant Land in 2007.^[11][12] Since his death in 2013,^[13] she has worked to preserve and promote his work and legacy.^[4]

References

1. Baghdad: The City in Verse. Harvard University Press. 2013-11-18. ISBN 978-0-674-72778-6.
2. Badran, Margot; Cooke, Miriam (2004). Opening the Gates: An Anthology of Arab Feminist Writing. Indiana University Press. ISBN 978-0-253-21703-5.
3. Altoma, Salih J. (2010-10-14). Iraq's Modern Arabic Literature: A Guide to English Translations Since 1950. Scarecrow Press. ISBN 978-0-8108-7706-1.
4. "Absence The Manifestations of a Recollected Presence". American University of Beirut. 2015-12-08. Retrieved 2022-03-29.
5. Who's Who in Research: Cultural Studies. Intellect Books. 2013-01-01. ISBN 978-1-78320-161-7.
6. "May Muzaffar". The British Museum. Retrieved 2022-03-29.
7. Handal, Nathalie, ed. (2015-09-30). The Poetry of Arab Women: A Contemporary Anthology. Interlink Publishing Group Incorporated. ISBN 978-1-56656-374-1.
8. Flotow, Luise von; Kamal, Hala (2020-06-09). The Routledge Handbook of Translation, Feminism and Gender. Routledge. ISBN 978-1-351-65805-8.
9. Sairanen, Elina (2021-07-11). "Rafa Nasiri". Mathqaf. Retrieved 2022-03-29.
10. Al-Ali, Nadje; Al-Najjar, Deborah (2013-01-18). We Are Iraqis: Aesthetics and Politics in a Time of War. Syracuse University Press. ISBN 978-0-8156-5199-4.
11. "RAFA AL-NASIRI". Station Museum of Contemporary Art. Retrieved 2022-03-29.
12. "Dia Al-Azzawi (Iraqi, b. 1939): Arsak Mowt (Your Wedding is Death)". Christies. Retrieved 2022-03-29.
13. Elbaldawi, Lujain (May 27, 2022). "Renowned Iraqi poet Muzaffar al-Nawab dies - Al-Monitor: Independent, trusted coverage of the Middle East". www.al-monitor.com.