Literature from the "Axis of Evil" is an anthology of short stories, poems and excerpts from novels by twenty writers from seven countries, translated into English (often for the first time), and published by Words Without Borders in 2006.
The purpose of the anthology, as described in the editors' note, is to increase "American access to world literature in translation". The editors wrote:
The editors selected works, all published in the second half of the 20th or early 21st century, by authors living in, or originating from, Iran, Iraq, North Korea, Syria, Libya, Sudan and Cuba. A brief overview of the contemporary literature of each country is provided, to set the writings in their specific national context.
Writers and works included Iran Houshang Moradi-Kermani: "The Vice-Principal" (short story, 1979) Tirdad Zolghadr: excerpt from the novella A Little Less Conversation (2006) Ahmad Shamlou: "Existence" (poem, 1957) Iraq Salah Al-Hamdani: "Baghdad My Beloved" (poem, 2003) Sherko Fatah: excerpt from the novel At the Borderline (2001) Muhsin Al-Ramli: excerpt from the novel Scattered Crumbs (late 1990s) Saadi Youssef: "Five Crosses" (poem, 1961) Fadhil Al-Azzawi: "Hameed Nylon", first chapter of the novel The Last of the Angels (1992) North Korea Kang Kwi-mi: "A Tale of Music""A Tale of Music" (short story, 2003) Hong Seok-jung: excerpt from the novel Hwangjini (2002) Lim Hwa-won: "The Fifth Photograph" (short story, 2001) Byungu Chon: "Falling Persimmons" (poem, 1992) Syria Hanna Mina: "On the Sacks" (short story, 1976) Salim Barakat: excerpt from the novel Jurists of Darkness (1985) Libya Khamel al-Maghur: "The Soldiers' Plumes", excerpt from the memoir Stations (late 1990s or early 2000s) Ashur Etwebi: "The Place Will Fit Everything" (poem) Sudan Tarek Eltayeb: "Coffee and Water" (poem, 1999) Tarek Eltayeb: "The Sweetest Tea with the Most Beautiful Woman in the World" (short story, 1993) Cuba Anna Lidía Vega Serova: "Project for a Commemorative Mural (Mixed Media)" (poem, 2001) Francisco García Gonzáles: "Women of the Federation" (short story, 2003) Raúl Rivero: "I Don't Want Anyone Coming Around to Save Me" (poem, 2002)
Critical reviews
Chandrahas Choudhury of The Indian Express also provided a positive review:
See also Lullabies from the Axis of Evil Holidays in the Axis of Evil
Notes
References
External links Online access to Literature from the "Axis of Evil" Official website of Words Without Borders "Literature and Lullabies from the 'Axis of Evil'", National Public Radio, October 12, 2006