Dr Fabio Caiani, Lecturer
Contact Information
fc8@st-andrews.ac.uk
Phone: 01334 463673
Office: Buchanan 107
Research and Teaching
My research focuses on modern Arabic fiction and it is based on a close-textual analysis of primary sources. My literary (formal) approach aims at filling a gap in the literary criticism of Arabic literature available in non-Arabic languages which too often seems to neglect the artistic element of Arabic fictional texts.
In the past I focused on the experimental and innovative works of some of the most significant Arab writers (Yusuf Idris, Idwar al-Kharrat, Muhammad Barrada and Elyas Khoury). At the moment, together with Catherine Cobham I am working on the texts of the much overlooked pioneers of Iraqi fiction: ‘Abd al-Malik Nuri, Gha’ib Tu‘ma Farman, Mahdi ‘Isa al-Saqr and Fu’ad al-Takarli.
I teach Arabic language modules at all levels, including Media Arabic and Advanced Arabic at the Honours level.
Activities and awards
- Honours Adviser for Arabic (2011)
- Member of BRISMES (British Society for Middle Eastern Studies)
- Refereeing for papers for Journal of Arabic Literature (2003)
Publications
Contemporary Arab Fiction: Innovation from Rama to Yalu
Caiani, F.
2007
London and New York:
Routledge
.
180 p.
(Routledge Studies in Middle Eastern Literatures).
Research output
:
Book/Report
›
Book
L’arte di narrare: vecchio e nuovo a confronto
Caiani, F.
&
Osti, L.
2002
In:
Eredità del XX Secolo in Medio Oriente.
Restifo, G. (ed.).
Selene
,
p. 207-225.
18 p.
Research output
:
Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding
›
Chapter
Bread and Cinema: Baghdad in
al-Nakhla wa-'l-jiran
by Gha'ib Tu'ma Farman
Caiani, F.
&
Cobham, C. M.
2010
In :
Middle Eastern Literatures
.
13
,
3
,
p. 231-259.
28 p.
Research output
:
Contribution to journal
›
Article
The Other Shore: Dialogue and Difference in Mahdi Isa al-Saqr's al-Shati' al-thani
Cobham, C. M.
&
Caiani, F.
2008
In :
Middle Eastern Literatures
.
11
,
3
,
p. 265 – 281.
17 p.
Research output
:
Contribution to journal
›
Article
'My Name is Yalu.' The Development of Metafiction in Ilyas Khuri's Work
Caiani, F.
2007
In :
Middle Eastern Literatures
.
10
,
2
,
p. 137-155.
8 p.
Research output
:
Contribution to journal
›
Article
Representations of Egypt in some Works by Idwar al-Kharrat
Caiani, F.
2005
In :
Middle Eastern Literatures
.
8
,
1
,
p. 35-52.
17 p.
Research output
:
Contribution to journal
›
Article
Polyphony and narrative voice in Fuad Al-Takarli's 'Al-Raj Al-Baid' (Iraq, novel, themes)
Caiani, F.
2004
In :
Journal of Arabic Literature
.
35
,
p. 45-70.
26 p.
Research output
:
Contribution to journal
›
Article
Osservazioni sulla lingua nel racconto al-‘Atb ‘ala ’l-nazar di Yusuf Idris.
Caiani, F.
1999
In :
Annali di Ca' Foscari
.
XXXVIII
,
3
,
p. 163-179.
16 p.
Research output
:
Contribution to journal
›
Article