by Rajia Hassib
To the authors, translators, and editors of these books and, by extension, to academics everywhere: Thank you.
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
I am sincerely, humbly grateful to the following people, without whom this book would not have existed:
Jane Hill, my mentor, friend, first reader of every single draft, and guardian of my sanity.
Lynn Nesbit, whom I instate as the most wisely and kindly supportive literary agent in existence.
Everyone at Viking: Allison Lorentzen, my anchor of an editor, whose impeccably sharp and yet unfailingly gentle guidance always steers me in the right direction. Brian Tart, Andrea Schulz, and Kate Stark believed in this novel and brought it to life. Lindsey Prevette and Theresa Gaffney worked tirelessly on its publicity. Jane Cavolina meticulously copyedited every single line. Beena Kamlani gave the book a thorough read. Brianna Harden gave it a gorgeous cover.
Essam Marouf, who allowed the use of the breathtaking artwork that graces the jacket.
The list of writers and poets I am indebted to includes: Ann Beattie (always), Bob Hill, Marie Manilla; my fellow Missfits (Laura Michele Diener, Wendi Kozma, Greta Rensenbrink, Kristin Steele, and Tracy Proctor Williamson); Molly Fuller and Jill Treftz, whose hilarious posts about PhD struggles inspired the prospectus chapter; the West Virginia writers who have all embraced me as one of them; and the entire faculty, past and present, of Marshall University’s English Department.
Finally, my family: my parents, Raafat and Laila (I miss you, Mama); my sister, Dina; my nephew and niece, Omar and Malak. And, of course: Sarah and Yousef, my sweetest blessings, and Kamel: I followed you to the U.S. twenty years ago, and I would still follow you anywhere you go. I build my home wherever you are.
About the Author
Rajia Hassib was born and raised in Egypt and moved to the United States when she was twenty-three. Her first novel, In the Language of Miracles, was a New York Times Editors’ Choice and received an honorable mention from the Arab American Book Awards. She holds an MA in Creative Writing from Marshall University, and she has written for The New York Times Book Review and The New Yorker online. She lives in West Virginia with her husband and two children.
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