The General Egyptian Book Organization recently published the Arabic translation of the complete works of renowned American poet Walt Whitman (1819-1892). The translation, comprising 996 large-size pages by Egyptian poet Rifaat Sallam, adds yet more enrichment to the Arabic poetry library.
Walt Whitman became known in the Arab World in the 1980s through the previous publication of his selected poems translated into Arabic. Whitman’s writings are deemed invaluable because they represent a clear observation of the American community’s conditions in the middle of the 19th century and the radical changes of the era which affected all walks of life.
The new translation of Whitman’s completed works includes a 70-page introduction, as detailed as a research study, on Whitman and his literary journey. Throughout the book Sallam has highlighted the many stages in Whitman’s life, with his career shifting from journalism to teaching and finally writing poetry.