By ASHARQ AL-AWSAT

The English translation of Lebanese-American writer Ameen Rihani’s letters along with some selections of the letters he had received from authors have been published in New York.

The book included letters he wrote to writers like Khalil Mutran, Naoum Moukarzel, Gibran Khalil Gibran, Mikhail Nuaimi, and many others.

The book also featured letters which were received by Rihani from Lebanese, Arab, and foreign writers, politicians, including the first Lebanese President Charles Debbas, and his family members.

The book included a special annex that highlighted the Rihani Museum in Lebanon and the most important documents that can be found in it.

Amazon’s new publication is composed of 475 pages. The New York-based company dedicated a special page for the book on its website.

The book was translated into English by Dr. Georges Nicolas Al-Hajj, who also worked on the book’s introduction highlighting Rihani’s renaissance role.

He also shed light on the writer’s letters, which represent vital cultural documents due to their literary and intellectual characteristics and global communication networks.

Hajj is a professor of Arab literature and Mediterranean studies who teaches in several US universities including Yale, Columbia, and Binghamton.

He also has a special poetry collection and writings tackling the contemporary and comparative literatures.