Ihab Hassan

Ihab Hassan was an Egyptian–born American writer and academic, author of twelve books and numerous essays of literary, critical, travel and autobiographical work. He frequently visited Australia and lived in Wisconsin. His works include Radical Innocence: Studies in the contemporary American novel (1961); The Dismemberment of Orpheus: Towards a postmodern literature (1971); and Selves at Risk: Patterns of quest in contemporary American letters (1990).

Ihab Hassan reviews 'Dream Stuff' by David Malouf

April 2000, no. 219 • 01 April 2000

This collection is well named: dreams drive its narratives. Dreams or something like dreams – ghosts, memories, shadowy gleams. We are always close to the ‘mystery of suspended expectation’, as Malouf puts it in the title story, but never quite penetrate it. In dreams, you might say, begin responsibilities – that’s Yeats – and yes, flashes of knowledge, obscure reconciliations. ... (read more)

‘How Australian Is It’ by Ihab Hassan

September 2000, no. 224 • 01 September 2000

The question is probably all wrong. How can an American – well, an Egyptian-born American, if hyphenate we must – pronounce life on Australia? I came to the Antipodes late in my life, drawn to the Pacific, that great wink of eternity, Melville called it, drawn to horizons more than to origins. I made friends and became in Australia a wintry celebrant. That’s personal. Geopolitically – and ... (read more)