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During the Middle Ages, the Iberian Peninsula was home not to Spain and Portugal but rather to al-Andalus. Ruled by a succession of Islamic dynasties, al-Andalus came to be a shorthand for a legendary place where people from the Middle East, North Africa, and Europe; Jews, Christians, and Muslims lived together in peace. That reputation is not entirely deserved, yet, as On Earth or in Poems shows, it has had an enduring hold on the imagination, especially for Arab and Muslim artists and thinkers in Europe, the Middle East, and North Africa.

From the vast and complex story behind the name al-Andalus, Syrians and North Africans draw their own connections to history’s ruling dynasties. Palestinians can imagine themselves as “Moriscos,” descended from Spanish Muslims forced to hide their identities. A Palestinian flamenco musician in Chicago, no less than a Saudi women’s rights activist, can take inspiration from al-Andalus. These diverse relationships to the same past may be imagined, but the present-day communities and future visions those relationships foster are real.

Where do these notions of al-Andalus come from? How do they translate into aspiration and action? Eric Calderwood traces the role of al-Andalus in music and in debates about Arab and Berber identities, Arab and Muslim feminisms, the politics of Palestine and Israel, and immigration and multiculturalism in Europe. The Palestinian poet Mahmud Darwish once asked, “Was al-Andalus / Here or there? On earth … or in poems?” The artists and activists showcased in this book answer: it was there, it is here, and it will be.

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Eric Calderwood completed his doctoral studies at Harvard University in 2011 and earned his undergraduate degree, a B.A., from Brown University in 2003. Calderwood is an Associate Professor in the Department of Spanish/Portuguese at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. He has affiliations in departments across the university, including Comparative and World Literature, Spanish and Portuguese, Unit for Criticism and Interpretive Theory, Program in Medieval Studies, History, European Union Center, Center for South Asian and Middle Eastern Studies, and Center for African Studies. This multifaceted academic engagement underscores his dedication to fostering a comprehensive understanding of his research areas. Dr. Calderwood has received numerous honors and awards, including the prestigious Conrad Humanities Scholar designation from 2018 to 2023, the Lincoln Excellence for Assistant Professors (LEAP) Award in 2017-18, and a National Endowment for the Humanities Fellowship during the 2016-2017 academic year His scholarly contributions extend to a range of publications, including his notable book, "On Earth or in Poems: The Many Lives of al-Andalus," which was published by Harvard University Press in 2023. This work delves deep into the enduring legacy of al-Andalus, enriching our understanding of this pivotal historical and cultural epoch. Additionally, his research has produced significant articles such as "Strait Flow" in PMLA (2022) and "What Is Moroccan Literature? History of an Object in Motion" in the Journal of Arabic Literature (2021), both of which have made significant contributions to their respective fields. Calderwood's dedication to cross-cultural dialogue, literary exploration, and the examination of historical narratives has established him as an influential figure in Mediterranean and postcolonial studies. His ongoing work continues to illuminate the intricate tapestry of these regions and their interconnected histories.