Book record
In Praise of Defeat
Abdellatif Laabi
Translated from French by Donald Nicholson-Smith
Abdellatif Laabi's In Praise of Defeat, translated from French by Donald Nicholson-Smith, feels like a book organized around exile, endurance, and the conscience that remains after defeat. That does not mean the poems should be treated as illustrations of a theme. Better to approach them as moments of speech, records of whatever made language necessary. For a reader new to this poet, I would suggest beginning with the first image that creates a physical reaction: surprise, discomfort, tenderness, recognition, even refusal. The translation brings poetry from poetry connected to Morocco into English while preserving the sense that some meanings should remain a little restless. In Praise of Defeat belongs on the shelf because it trusts poetry to do more than explain. It lets language alter the room around the reader.
- Published
- 2016
- Publisher
- Archipelago Books
- Language
- French
- Country
- Morocco
- ISBN
- 9780914671596