Beloved in Middle Eastern Literatures

In the long literary conversation of the Middle Eastern region, the subject of the beloved has been whispered, proclaimed and recorded by the voices of different languages, peoples and genders. From the seventh to nineteenth centuries it united disparate cultures, a shared concept in all of its personal, divine, and erotic manifestations. These essays underscore prevalent intercultural dialogues, which supersede geographical and temporal barriers and contested concepts of nationhood. Additionally, they reflect on the value of cross-cultural exchange and the nuances of the beloved's portrayal amongst the examined languages and cultures of the Middle East. Forsaking typical national or religious structures to organize these writings around, the essays are grouped along lovers' roles and love's effects on the individual and the whole. They are the first of their kind to do so. There is a vast literary corpus in Arabic, Persian, Hebrew, Ottoman, and other Middle Eastern literatures glorifying love and languishing for the sake of the beloved. The exploration of the theme in these texts and tongues sets out to reknit the lost harmonious ties amongst divided Middle Eastern peoples, and will focus on the all-important issues of affiliations, affection, and acculturation, rather than acrimony.