About
My work explores the politics of representing the past in modern Spanish and Arabic literature and culture. My research is primarily focused on Spanish colonialism in Morocco (1859-1956), as represented by Spanish and Moroccan writers, but I am also interested in Spanish and Arabic historiography, Spanish and Arabic travel narratives, the history of convivencia, and the emergence of an al-Andalus “culture industry” (consisting of museums, festivals, and tourist routes) in twentieth-century Spain, Morocco, Algeria, and Syria. Though my research focuses mostly on the nineteenth century, it responds to the changing ethnic and religious demographics of the contemporary Spanish citizenry and also reflects a concern for Spain and Morocco’s continuing roles as thresholds between Europe and Africa, and between Christianity and Islam. In addition to my scholarly interests, I also write literary essays and other forms of creative non-fiction for popular magazines and newspapers.
Recent and Selected Publications
“The Beginning (or End) of Moroccan History: Historiography, Translation, and Modernity in Ahmad b. Khalid al-Nasiri and Clemente Cerdeira.” International Journal of Middle East Studies 44 (2012): 399-420.
“Study Abroad.” Harvard Review 40 (2011): 210-218.
Ed. La venganza venturosa by Lope de Vega. Introduction, text, notes, and critical apparatus. In Comedias de Lope Vega. Parte X. Lérida: Editorial Mileno; Departament de Filologia Espanyola de la Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, 2010. 231-359.
“The Road to Damascus.” New England Review 31.3 (2010): 168-175. Cited in The Best American Travel Writing 2011. Ed. Sloane Crosley and Jason Wilson. Boston: Houghton Mifflin, 2011.
“Letter from Algeria: Waiting for a Goal.” The American Scholar Fall 2010: 6-11. Cited in The Best American Sports Writing 2011. Ed. Jane Leavy and Glenn Stout. Boston: Houghton Mifflin, 2011.
“The Blind Plumber of Tetouan.” Virginia Quarterly Review Winter 2010 (Special issue devoted to North Africa): 102-113.
“Letter from Morocco: The Living and the Dead.” The American Scholar Fall 2009: 7-11.
“The Violence Network.” Boston Sunday Globe. Ideas section. January 18, 2009. C1-C2. Reprinted in “Best Columns: The U.S.” section. The Week. January 30, 2009: 12.
