Edward Said: The Charisma of Criticism

by Veeser; H. Aram

• ISBN13: 9780415902649
• ISBN10: 0415902649
• Edition: 1st
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 2010-03-09
• Publisher: Routledge

Summary

In this insightful critical biography, Harold Veeser draws the connections between Said's life, politics, and criticism. These three areas, Veeser shows, are united in the central theme of Said's persona: charisma. This drive for charisma leads Said 'between worlds' from his childhood as 'A Christian wrapped in Muslim culture' in Jerusalem to a prestigious Ivy League academic career to a colorful political career that thrust him into a circle of international figures, diplomats, legendary generals, presidents, and outright terrorists and thugs-Arab and Israeli alike. In all arenas, Said fought for personality, originality, and the marvelous against anonymity, routine, and impersonal method. This book includes previously unpublished biographical and political facts, interviews, anecdotes-as well as never-before-transcribed correspondence and conversations.

Table of Contents

Abbreviations	p. ix
Foreword	p. x
A Note on the Title of this Book	p. xii
The Charisma of Edward Said	p. 1
(“That Bastard, Said”)	p. 20
Beginning Again	p. 23
(“Your Name Is Aram”)	p. 36
Emergence	p. 40
(“Before He Was An Arab”)	p. 57
Academostardom	p. 61
(“Smart Jewish Boys”)	p. 81
Secular Criticism	p. 83
(The Way He Taught Then)	p. 103
Rhetoric and Image	p. 106
(Ambition)	p. 113
On Stage	p. 116
(“Up to the Standard”)	p. 136
Later Visions	p. 139
(Abu-Machiavelli)	p. 156
Marquee Intellectual	p. 158
(“I'm Very Upset”)	p. 172
Political Roughhouse	p. 175
(“Partial Credit”)	p. 191
Dropping the PLO	p. 194
(“Wonderful Cheeses”)	p. 202
Said in History	p. 204
Notes	p. 221
Bibliography of Works Cited	p. 246
Index	p. 255
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