'Oh, the Happy Queen': On Feminization and Humour in Ḥuzāmah Ḥabāyib's Novel, Qabl an tanām al-malikah

This article examines the writing of H{dot below}uzāmah H{dot below}abāyib, a new generation Palestinian writer, who is considered one of the foremost Palestinian women writers. It focuses on her novel Qabl an tanām al-malikah, which serves as an example of the bold and dissident writing of the new generation of Palestinian women writers. The article examines the way in which H{dot below}abāyib creates a feminization of humour and a kind of a 'feminine humour'. H{dot below}abāyib employs humour in order to shed light on the darkness of life and show how despite everything and in spite of an arduous and troubled life, women know how to enjoy the small and everyday things in life.