The Arab American literature is term to denote a part of Arabic Literature which flourished inthe North and South America at the hand of the Arab writers, who immigrated to the regions in the end of the nineteenth and the beginning of the twentieth century. They migrated from different parts of Middle East, mainly from Lebanon, Syria and Palestine due to political and economic crisis. Though they entered the American countries to search their living, they didn’t fail to recall their own art, culture and literature,with this goal they resumed their literary activities by founding some literary societies and associations both in North and South America. The Pen League (al-Rabiṭah al-Qalamiyah) was the first Arab-American literary society, formed originally by Nasib Arida and Abdul Massih Haddad in 1915or 1916, and afterwards it was re-formed in 1920 by a group of Arab writers in New York headed by Jibran Khalil Jibran. And Mikhail Nuaima was selected as the General Secretary. The league was dissolved following the death of Jibran Khalil Jibran in 1931 and Mikhail Nuaima’s return to Lebanon in 1932. The main objective of this society was to preserve the Arabic language and literature in America. The pen league played a significant role in the development and promotion of Arabic literature in America.

Arab American literature, the Pen League, the Andalusian society, Journals and Magazines