Tales of Juha - Classic Arab Folk Humor
edited by Salma Khadra Jayyusi; introduction by Said Yaqtine

Juha is an old Arab comic literary figure (known also to Persians and Turks) around whom countless popular anecdotes were written. He appears variously as preacher and beggar, porter and petty merchant, thief and honest man, judge and social critic, wise man and fool, jester and charlatan (though never as oppressor). While the subject matter is Arab or otherwise Islamic, the humor transcends national and cultural boundaries to achieve a universality that is instantly recognizable and accessible today.

About the author
Salma Khadra Jayyusi is one of the Arab world’s most distinguished literary personalities. She is the founder of PROTA (Project of Translation from Arabic) and is widely known for her poetry and literary criticism. Her books include Trends and Movements in Modern Arabic Poetry, The Legacy of Muslim Spain, and The Literature of Modern Arabia: An Anthology.

Reviews
"Said Yagtine's remarkable introduction allows readers to enter the world of Juha and get a better understanding of Arab humour and anecdote traditions."
--Banipal

Related Links
Sample Stories