Snow in Amman: An Anthology of Short Stories from Jordan
SynopsisPlot
Filled with deeply nuanced storytelling and vividly drawn, often heartbreaking human characters, Snow in Amman: An Anthology of Short Stories From Jordan is a rich selection of contemporary Jordanian fiction which stands in stark contrast to many of the prevailing stereotypes of Arabic culture. Outside the archaeological lens, very little is known about life in Jordan, particularly in the English-speaking world. Such lack makes it more susceptible to falling into the soup of widespread generalizations about the Middle East.
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About this book
Snow in Amman is an anthology of eleven short stories from Jordan, all appearing in English for the first time in this collection. The stories were selected and translated by Ibtihal Mahmood and Alexander Haddad, and they cover a range of social and feminist concerns drawn from contemporary Jordanian life. The title itself carries a quiet signal: snowfall in Amman is uncommon but real, and the phrase suggests something ordinary seen from an unexpected angle.
Jordan is widely recognized for its archaeological sites, but everyday fiction from the country has had limited visibility in English-language publishing. These stories work against that gap by presenting characters and situations rooted in specific domestic, urban, and social realities rather than broad regional generalizations. The settings and tensions are particular to Jordan, yet the human situations described, including family pressures, gender expectations, and personal independence, connect to patterns found in many parts of the world.
The collection draws from multiple Jordanian authors rather than a single voice, which means styles and perspectives shift from one story to the next. This structure gives the anthology a wider view of the country's literary landscape than a single-author work would offer.
