Diana Abu-Jaber

About the Author

Diana Abu-Jaber is an acclaimed author whose works beautifully intertwine her Jordanian-American heritage with the rich tapestry of Middle Eastern culture and identity. Born in Syracuse, New York, to a Jordanian father and American mother, she spent much of her childhood shuttling between the United States and Jordan, experiences that profoundly shape her storytelling. With a PhD in English from the University of Pittsburgh, Abu-Jaber has taught creative writing at universities across the country, including the University of Oregon and Columbia University. Her writing often explores themes of family, displacement, and the sensory allure of food as a bridge between worlds. Notable for her novel Crescent, which won the PEN Center USA Award for Fiction, and her memoir The Language of Baklava, blending personal narrative with cherished recipes, Abu-Jaber continues to captivate readers with her evocative prose that celebrates cultural hybridity and the immigrant experience.