Cory Jorgensen, a professor of Arabic studies at the Columbian College of Arts and Sciences at George Washington University, is the author of, “Throwing Down the Verbal Gauntlet: The Arabic Invective of Jarīr and al-Farazdaq.” A specialist in classical Arabic literature and Arabic pedagogy, Jorgensen has published and presented extensively on these topics.
His latest book examines the work of two eighth-century Arab poets, best known for a series of verbal battles that spanned several decades. These poets engaged in sharp, witty poetic duels designed to resonate with their audiences and elevate their cultural status. Jorgensen’s book offers a new interpretation of this tradition and provides insight into the intertwined roles of poet, opponent and audience.