Khaled Mattawa

About the Author

Khaled Mattawa is an acclaimed Libyan-American poet, translator, and essayist whose work bridges the cultural landscapes of the Arab world and the West. Born in Benghazi, Libya, in 1964, he immigrated to the United States as a teenager, where he pursued studies in political science and creative writing, earning degrees from Kalamazoo College and the University of Michigan. Mattawa's poetry often explores themes of exile, identity, and the immigrant experience, infused with a lyrical intensity that draws from both classical Arabic traditions and contemporary American voices. As a translator, he has brought the works of prominent Arab poets into English, earning prestigious awards including the MacArthur Fellowship and the PEN Award for Poetry in Translation. His debut collection, Tocqueville, marked a significant contribution to modern literature, reflecting on democracy and displacement through a poetic lens that resonates with global audiences.