Al-Funun vol. 1 no. 01

Vol. 1 No. 1 of الفنون, or Al-Funun was published in April 1913.  The first issue opened with a photograph of and poem by Kahlil Gibran and a short story by Amin Rihani and ended with a statement of purpose written by the editors. Between these, the bulk of this inaugural issue was comprised of pieces of world literature translated into Arabic. The majority of the translations are from Russian and Eastern European authors:  in addition to familiar names like Ivan Turgenev and Maxim Gorky, the issue contains works by lesser-known authors such as Leonid Andreyev and Fyodor Sologub Polish Symbolist writer Stanisław Przybyszewski. Short works by Victor Hugo and Oscar Wilde are also included, as well as multiple pieces by anonymous authors. Many of the translators were unknown, but at least one piece was translated by Nasib Arida. Additionally, Arida included a poem that he wrote under the pseudonym Alif. The back pages of the issue contain advertisements, largely from Syrian businesses located in New York City.

Moise A. Khayrallah Center for Lebanese Diaspora Studies

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The Arts

الفنون

al-Funūn

al-Funoon

Nasib Aridah Organization. Al-Funun. Webpage. Last modified February 18, 2004. http://www.al-funun.org/index.html

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