Kahlil Gibran (1883-1931) was born in Lebanon and later emigrated to the United States. Although he considered himself a painter, he is remembered most for his writings. His most famous work is a book called The Prophet, first published in 1923, which contains a series of philosophical essays on topics such as love and marriage. His Broken Wings: A Novel was retranslated in 1998, demonstrating a style of writing similar to El-Bisatie's. It was this novel that had the most profound effect on Gibran's fellow writers in Lebanon. Also by Gibran is The Storm: Stories & Prose Poems, retranslated in 1997, in which Gibran explores issues such as injustice dealt to the poor and the tender innocence of young love.

For a female perspective on Egyptian culture, Miral Al-Tahawy's The Tent offers a glimpse into the lives of Bedouin and peasant women, exposing elements...