Leila Chatti is a Tunisian-American poet recognised for her exploration in her poetry of themes such as identity, illness and the female body. Chatti has received numerous accolades for her work, and her poetry has been widely published in literary journals and anthologies.
Early life and education
editLeila Chatti was born to a Tunisian father and an American mother. She spent her childhood in both Tunisia and the United States, experiences that deeply influence her poetry.[1] Chatti holds an MFA in Creative Writing from North Carolina State University and an MFA in Poetry from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, where she was awarded the Diane Middlebrook Poetry Fellowship at the Wisconsin Institute for Creative Writing.[2][1]
Works
editChatti's poems have been published in numerous literary journals and magazines, including Ploughshares,[3] The New York Times Magazine,[4] Tin House, The American Poetry Review and The Kenyon Review. Her work has also been featured in several anthologies, highlighting her contributions to contemporary poetry.[3]
Chatti's poetry often explores the intersections of identity, particularly the experience of being a woman and a Muslim in contemporary society.[4][5] Her work is known for its exploration of bodily autonomy, faith and the complexities of cultural heritage.[3][4]
Chatti's debut full-length collection, Deluge (2020), was published by Copper Canyon Press. The collection received critical acclaim for its examination of illness and the female body, drawing from Chatti's personal experiences with a life-threatening medical condition.[3][6][6] Publishers Weekly described Deluge as a "stunning debut" that "expertly examines the interplay of faith, illness, and identity".[7] Library Journal praised the collection for its "intensity and lyrical precision," noting that Chatti's poems are "deeply personal and universally resonant".[8] The Rumpus highlighted the collection's "unflinching honesty and lyrical power", calling it "a vital addition to contemporary poetry".[9]
Her chapbooks include Ebb (2018)[3] and Tunsiya/Amrikiya (2018).[5] Chatti's work is noted for its lyrical intensity and exploration of cultural and religious identity.[4]
Recognition and awards
editChatti has received several prestigious awards and fellowships, including:
References
edit- ^ a b c "Authors". Ploughshares. Retrieved 2024-07-10.
- ^ "Leila Chatti – MFA, North Carolina State". Creative Writing at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Retrieved 2024-07-12.
- ^ a b c d e f "Leila Chatti – Copper Canyon Press". Retrieved 2024-07-10.
- ^ a b c d e Chatti, Leila; Betts, Reginald Dwayne (2021-02-04). "Poem: Confession". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2024-07-10.
- ^ a b c "Tunsiya/Amrikiya by Leila Chatti". Bull City Press. 2017-08-26. Retrieved 2024-07-10.
- ^ a b "Library Journal". www.libraryjournal.com. Retrieved 2024-07-11.
- ^ "Book Reviews, Bestselling Books & Publishing Business News | Publishers Weekly". PublishersWeekly.com. Retrieved 2024-07-11.
- ^ "Review of Deluge by Leila Chatti – The Journal". Retrieved 2024-07-11.
- ^ Rodriguez, Janet (2023-04-13). "I Freed Myself from Needing to Make Sense: A Conversation with Leila Chatti". The Rumpus. Retrieved 2024-07-11.
- ^ "Chatti, Leila". Creative Writing. 2021-12-27. Retrieved 2024-07-10.