in the opening chapter of though shalt not speak my language 2008 in the mirrorpreview the document kilito ponders the surprisingly candid declaration by the french arabist charles pellat 1914 1992 that in general arabic books produce a sense o
- In the opening chapter of Though Shalt not Speak My Language (2008), “In the Mirror,†Kilito ponders the surprisingly candid declaration by the French Arabist Charles Pellat (1914-1992) that, “In general, Arabic books produce a sense of boredom, whatever their topic, and however attractive their titles.†This verdict on Arabic literature, as Kilito notes, is shocking to hear from an individual who dedicated his life to its study. How does Kilito interpret and then critique Pellat’s verdict? Lastly, is Arabic literature really boring after all? Why or why not?