New Book with Penguin Classics
I’m delighted to announce the publication of my new book, The Tale of Princess Fatima, Warrior Woman: The Arabic Epic of Dhat al-Himma. This handy book contains carefully selected episodes from the longest extant Arabic epic, and the only one named for a woman. Below is a photo of the seven volumes that comprise the original Arabic text.
Review copies are already out. General copies will be on their way to those of you who pre-ordered in a few days! For more details regarding orders, see:
Penguin – https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/605312/the-tale-of-princess-fatima-warrior-woman-by-edited-translated-and-with-an-introduction-and-notes-by-melanie-magidow/ Amazon – https://smile.amazon.com/Tale-Princess-Fatima-Warrior-Woman-ebook/dp/B08R1BHGZM/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=melanie+magidow&qid=1626722076&sr=8-1
It’s also available as an Audible audiobook and it was a great pleasure working with the wonderful voice artist, Dalia Ramahi.
In addition, there is a short and free publication, perfect for teaching college students or for anyone interested in a scholarly introduction and an excerpt. Open-Access Publication here.
I’ll be adding here as more related reviews / interviews appear. Thank you to everyone who contributed, supported, and encouraged this project!
Publicity
Featured on Myths and Legends **podcast: **https://www.mythpodcast.com/15944/333-arabian-folklore-part-1-resolve/
**Longlisted for National Translation Award: **https://literarytranslators.wordpress.com/2022/09/01/announcing-the-2022-national-translation-awards-in-prose-and-poetry-longlists/
**Review in Arab News: **https://www.arabnews.com/node/2012851/lifestyle
German Interview in ZemZem Magazine | Available from here: https://www.zemzemtijdschrift.nl/nummers/2022-1-er-was-eens/
Great review in The Fantasy Hive: https://fantasy-hive.co.uk/2022/04/the-tale-of-princess-fatima-warrior-woman-the-arabic-epic-of-dhat-al-himma-edited-and-translated-by-melanie-magidow-2022-book-review/
**Featured by re-writingmyth: **https://www.instagram.com/p/CdERnihjsPE/
**Reviewed on Medievalists Podcast as “Book of the Year”! **https://www.medievalists.net/2021/12/best-medieval-books-2021/
“My book of the year . . . This is a super fun tale. . . . It is really interesting . . . in the ways it plays with gender and race. . . . If you’re looking for a new primary source to get people interested in the Middle Ages in your classes, you really should consider this book. It really has a nice, interesting mix of societal commentary, fun medieval stuff, medieval warfare stuff, and different kinds of things that you couldn’t get in, say, The Song of Roland. . . . It’s something I think that people will want to read just in the same way that people like to read these Norse epics, like Egil’s Saga or even the chivalric romances. . . . I’ve read it twice now, and I’ve really enjoyed it.” ―Peter Konieczny, Medievalists.net podcast
Review **Article in the American Translators Association (ATA) Literary Division publication: **Mercedes Guhl, “The Fabulous Adventures of Melanie Magidow: Translating a Medieval Arabic Epic,” SOURCE (Fall 2021): 18-22. Available online: http://www.ata-divisions.org/LD/index.php/source/
Featured on Night Rule Podcast Ep. 52: https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/52-the-tale-of-princess-fatima-warrior-woman-feat/id1542886340?i=1000537586431
Featured on the Bulaq Podcast from minute 25:00 to 40:00: https://omny.fm/shows/bulaq/what-you-may-have-missed
Review article at Newlines Magazine: https://newlinesmag.com/essays/women-warriors-of-the-early-muslim-world/
Featured in Words Without Borders: https://www.wordswithoutborders.org/dispatches/article/the-watchlist-august-2021-tobias-carroll
Interview with Shannon Maher (included above)
In The Complete Review: https://www.complete-review.com/reviews/arab/dhat_al_himma.htm
In Ms. Magazine: https://msmagazine.com/2021/08/04/feminist-books-women-lgbtq-writers-august-2021-reads-for-the-rest-of-us/
Transfer Orbit Aug. 2021 SFF Booklist: https://transfer-orbit.ghost.io/new-science-fiction-fantasy-horror-books-august-2021/
Gizmodo Aug. 2021 SFF Roundup: https://gizmodo.com/49-new-sci-fi-and-fantasy-books-to-keep-you-turning-pag-1847214597
Early Publicity on arablit.org: https://arablit.org/2019/02/15/friday-finds-epic-of-the-commander-dhat-al-himma/
Original Announcement on my website: http://www.melaniemagidow.com/2019/02/06/new-warrior-woman-translation/