Staff profile

• Arab food history
• Arabic geographical and travel literature (with special focus on Arab travellers to Europe)
• Erotology and sexuality in the mediaeval Muslim world
• History of Translation in the Arab world
• My research lies at the crossroads of Arabic philology, translation studies, and cultural history, with an emphasis on how texts, tastes, and ideas circulated across the pre-modern and modern Arabic-speaking world. At its core lies a commitment to deep textual scholarship — rooted in original manuscript research — and a sensitivity to the lived, sensory, and material dimensions of Arabic culture. My intellectual trajectory has moved between literary history and the history of ideas. In my research on the nineteenth-century Arab Nahḍa, or 'Renaissance', I focused on Egyptian and Tunisian reformers and their encounters with European thought. Another key area is that of gastronomy, as a lens through which to understand everyday life, pleasure, and cross-cultural exchange in the medieval Islamic world. My publications in this field reveal cookbooks as sophisticated literary and scientific texts embedded in broader intellectual traditions of medicine, ethics, and aesthetics. This dual engagement — between the sensory and the textual, the historical and the philological — integrates the study of material culture, translation, and literary form to reconstruct the intellectual and social worlds in which Arabic culinary, medical, and erotic treatises were produced and read. I draw on sources ranging from medieval pharmacological manuals, historical chronicles, belles-lettres and travel narratives, as well as culinary treatises, revealing continuities between scientific rationality, aesthetic refinement, and moral discourse. I serve on the editorial board of Food & History and on the Scientific Council of the European Institute for the History and Culture of Foods.
• Beyond academia, I share my passion for recreating dishes from the medieval Arabic culinary tradition on Instagram (@medieval_arab_cooking), a blog (https://eatlikeasultan.com) and Youtube channel (@medieval_arab_cooking). In 2024-2025, I completed work on a fully functioning medieval Arab kitchen in Fujairah (United Arab Emirates), as part of an experimental culinary archaeology project, and brought to life a number of historical recipes. I also run historic cookery workshops and collaborate frequently with chefs from across the Muslim world in events showcasing the rich Arabic gastronomic history.

• 2023: Member of the Scientific Council of the European Institute for the History and Cultures of Food (Institut Européen dl’Histoire et des Cultures de l’Alimentation, IEHCA):
• 2023: Member of the Editorial Board of Food&History:
• 2021: Fellow of the Royal Geographical Society:
• 2019: Vice-President of the British Association of Teachers of Arabic:
• 2019: Visiting Professor at Hamad Bin Khalifa University (Doha, Qatar):
• 2014: Visiting Professor, UCLA:
• 2009: co-recipient of World Award of the President of the Republic of Tunisia for Islamic Studies:
• 2009 - 2012: AHRC Peer Review College member:
• 2009 - 2012: Member of Council, British Society for Middle Eastern Studies (2009-2012):
• 2008 - 2012: Member of the Executive Committee of the University Council of Modern Languages (UCML) [2008-12]:

Authored book

• Rifa'a al-Tahtawi: A Nineteenth-Century Egyptian Educationalist and Reformer
  
  Newman, D. (2020). Rifa’a al-Tahtawi: A Nineteenth-Century Egyptian Educationalist and Reformer. Edinburgh University Press.
• Arabic-English-Arabic Translation: Issues and Strategies
  
  Newman, D., & Husni, R. (2015). Arabic-English-Arabic Translation: Issues and Strategies. Routledge.
• A to Z of Arabic-English-Arabic Translation.
  
  Newman, D., & Husni, R. (2013). A to Z of Arabic-English-Arabic Translation. Saqi Books.
• An Imam In Paris: Al-Tahtawi's Visit To France 1826-1831. Rev. 2nd ed.
  
  Newman, D. (2011). An Imam In Paris: Al-Tahtawi’s Visit To France 1826-1831. Rev. 2nd ed. Saqi.
• Modern Arabic Short Stories: A Bilingual Reader - Twelve Stories by Contemporary Masters from Morocco to Iraq
  
  Newman, D., & Husni, R. (2008). Modern Arabic Short Stories: A Bilingual Reader - Twelve Stories by Contemporary Masters from Morocco to Iraq. Saqi Books.
• Arabic-English Thematic Lexicon.
  
  Newman, D. (2007). Arabic-English Thematic Lexicon. Routledge.
• An Imam in Paris: Al-Tahtawi's Visit to France (1826-1831)
  
  Newman, D. (2002). An Imam in Paris: Al-Tahtawi’s Visit to France (1826-1831). Saqi Books.
• Elsevier’s Dictionary of Ports and Shipping (English, French, Spanish, Italian, Portuguese, Dutch, German)
  
  Newman, D., & Van der Tuin, J. (1993). Elsevier’s Dictionary of Ports and Shipping (English, French, Spanish, Italian, Portuguese, Dutch, German). Elsevier.

Book review

• Charles PERRY (ed./trans.), Scents and Flavors. A Syrian Cookbook, Library of Arabic Literature (New York, New York University Press, 2017) Catherine GUILLAUMOND (trans.), Cuisine et diététique dans l’occident arabe médiéval d’apres un traité anonyme du XIIIe siecle. Étude et traduction française. Préface d’Ameur Ghedira, Histoire et Perspectives mediterraneennes (Paris, L’Harmattan, 2017)
  
  Newman, D. L. (2017). Charles PERRY (ed./trans.), Scents and Flavors. A Syrian Cookbook, Library of Arabic Literature (New York, New York University Press, 2017) Catherine GUILLAUMOND (trans.), Cuisine et diététique dans l’occident arabe médiéval d’apres un traité anonyme du XIIIe siecle. Étude et traduction française. Préface d’Ameur Ghedira, Histoire et Perspectives mediterraneennes (Paris, L’Harmattan, 2017). Food & History, 15(1-2). https://doi.org/10.1484/j.food.5.116344
• Instrumental Studies in Arabic Phonetics
  
  Newman, D. (2016). Instrumental Studies in Arabic Phonetics. Phonetica, 319, 79-82. https://doi.org/10.1159/000441300
• Taken for Wonder. Nineteenth-century Travel Accounts from Iran to Europe
  
  Newman, D. L. (2014). Taken for Wonder. Nineteenth-century Travel Accounts from Iran to Europe. Studies in Travel Writing, 18(4), 401-403. https://doi.org/10.1080/13645145.2014.966535
• Contemporary Iraqi Fiction. An Anthology
  
  Newman, D. (2008). Contemporary Iraqi Fiction. An Anthology. Banipal, 33, 146-148.
• A War of Words: Language and Conflict in the Middle East.
  
  Newman, D. (2007). A War of Words: Language and Conflict in the Middle East. Holy Land Studies, 6(2), 220-222.
• The Love of Strangers: What Six Muslim Students Learned in Jane Austen’s London
  
  Newman, D. (n.d.). The Love of Strangers: What Six Muslim Students Learned in Jane Austen’s London. Los Angeles Review of Books. Advance online publication.

Chapter in book

• Food in the Medieval Islamic World (9th–15th Centuries)
  
  Newman, D. (2024). Food in the Medieval Islamic World (9th–15th Centuries). In Oxford Research Encyclopedia of Food Studies. Oxford University Press. https://doi.org/10.1093/acrefore/9780197762530.013.7
• Gourmet Gastronomic Culture in Islamic Lands (10th-15th c.)
  
  Newman, D. (2023). Gourmet Gastronomic Culture in Islamic Lands (10th-15th c.). In L. Komaroff (Ed.), Dining with the Sultan: The Fine Art of Feasting. DelMonico Books.
• Rifa' al-Tahtawi
  
  Newman, D. L. (2021). Rifa’ al-Tahtawi. In D. Thomas & J. Chesworth (Eds.), Christian-Muslim Relations. A Bibliographical History. The Ottoman empire (1800-1914). (pp. 512-521). Brill Academic Publishers. https://doi.org/10.1163/9789004460270
• Arabic Travel Writing
  
  Newman, D. (2019). Arabic Travel Writing. In D. Nandini & T. Youngs (Eds.), The Cambridge history of travel writing. (pp. 143-158). Cambridge University Press. https://doi.org/10.1017/9781316556740.010
• Wandering Nights: Shahrazād’s Mutations
  
  Newman, D. (2018). Wandering Nights: Shahrazād’s Mutations. In C. Caruso (Ed.), The life of texts : evidence in textual production, transmission and reception.. (pp. 62-92). Bloomsbury.
• 'Hell for horses, paradise for women': power and identity in nineteenth-century North African narratives of travel to Europe
  
  Newman, D. (2017). ’Hell for horses, paradise for women’: power and identity in nineteenth-century North African narratives of travel to Europe. In G. Mackenthun, A. Nicolas, & S. Wodianka (Eds.), Travel, Agency, and the Circulation of Knowledge. (pp. 183-200). Waxmann.
• The Arabic Literary Language: the Nahda (and beyond)
  
  Newman, D. (2013). The Arabic Literary Language: the Nahda (and beyond). In J. Owens (Ed.), The Oxford Handbook of Arabic Linguistics (pp. 472-494). Oxford University Press. https://doi.org/10.1093/oxfordhb/9780199764136.013.0021
• Myths and signs of alienation between 19th-century rihlat and Europe.
  
  Newman, D. (2008). Myths and signs of alienation between 19th-century rihlat and Europe. In R. Ostle (Ed.), Sensibilities of the Islamic Mediterranean: Self expression in a Muslim Culture from post-classical times to the present day. (pp. 85-102). I.B. Tauris.
• Arab Muslim Minorities in the European Union: The Integration Paradigm
  
  Newman, D. (2006). Arab Muslim Minorities in the European Union: The Integration Paradigm. In M. al-Baljali & A. Jaber (Eds.), Ibn Zaydun: Islamic Civilization and the West. From Opposition to Partnership. (pp. 269-348). Al-Babtain Foundation.
• Contrastive Analysis of the Segments of French and Arabic
  
  Newman, D. (2005). Contrastive Analysis of the Segments of French and Arabic. In A. Elgibali (Ed.), Investigating Arabic : current parameters in analysis and learning. (pp. 185-206). Brill Academic Publishers.
• Translation Activity and Academies, Pre-modern Period
  
  Newman, D. L. (2004). Translation Activity and Academies, Pre-modern Period. In R. C. Martin, A. Afsaruddin, & D. M. Varisco (Eds.), Encyclopedia of Islam and The Muslim World (pp. 1171-1175). Macmillan.
• Translation Activity, Modern Period (19th c.)
  
  Newman, D. L. (n.d.). Translation Activity, Modern Period (19th c.). In R. C. Martin, A. Afsaruddin, & D. M. Varisco (Eds.), Encyclopedia of Islam and The Muslim World [Contracted by publisher] (pp. 1175-1183). Macmillan.
• Rifa'a al-Tahtawi
  
  Newman, D. L. (n.d.). Rifa’a al-Tahtawi. In R. C. Martin, A. Afsaruddin, & D. M. Varisco (Eds.), Encyclopedia of Islam and The Muslim World [Contracted by publisher] (pp. 1178-1179). Macmillan.

Edited book

• 2nd Annual International Conference Proceedings, Language, Literature & Linguistics (L32013), 17-18 June 2013, Singapore
  
  Newman, D. (Ed.). (2014). 2nd Annual International Conference Proceedings, Language, Literature & Linguistics (L32013), 17-18 June 2013, Singapore. GSTF.
• Proceedings of the 1st Annual International Conference on Language, Literature & Linguistics (L3 2012)
  
  Newman, D. (Ed.). (2012). Proceedings of the 1st Annual International Conference on Language, Literature & Linguistics (L3 2012). Global Science and Technology Forum.
• Maritime Terminology: Issues in Communication and Translation. Proceedings of the First International Conference on Maritime Terminology
  
  Newman, D., & Van Campenhoudt, M. (Eds.). (1999). Maritime Terminology: Issues in Communication and Translation. Proceedings of the First International Conference on Maritime Terminology. Éditions du Hazard.
• The Fujairah Feast: The Splendours of Historical Banqueting
  
  Newman, D. (Ed.). (n.d.). The Fujairah Feast: The Splendours of Historical Banqueting. Dar Al Muheet.

Journal Article

• 19th-century Tunisian Travel Literature on Europe: Construction of Memory and the Other
  
  Newman, D. (2010). 19th-century Tunisian Travel Literature on Europe: Construction of Memory and the Other. IBLA, 73(206), 175-189.
• Sulayman al-Hara’iri: an Early Tunisian Reformer
  
  Newman, D. (2009). Sulayman al-Hara’iri: an Early Tunisian Reformer. Cahiers de Tunisie., LXII(207-208), 11-60.
• Egyptian Colloqual Arabic (Cairo).
  
  Newman, D. (2008). Egyptian Colloqual Arabic (Cairo). Edinburgh IPA Archives. Advance online publication.
• Ahmad Bey's journey to the land of the Fransis (1846)
  
  Newman, D. (2008). Ahmad Bey’s journey to the land of the Fransis (1846). IBLA, 71(201), 43-102.
• رحلة سليمان بن صيام إلى فرنسا (عام 1852 م.): صفحة منسية في تاريخ الجزائر
  
  Newman, D. (2008). رحلة سليمان بن صيام إلى فرنسا (عام 1852 م.): صفحة منسية في تاريخ الجزائر. Chronos : Revue D’histoire de L’Université de Balamand., 17, 145-166.
• Cultural Translation in the Age of the Nahda.
  
  Newman, D., & Husni, R. (2007). Cultural Translation in the Age of the Nahda. Turjuman, 16(2), 63-87.
• The European Sources of the Aqwam al-Masalik fi Ma’rifat al-Mamalik
  
  Newman, D. (2007). The European Sources of the Aqwam al-Masalik fi Ma’rifat al-Mamalik. IBLA, 198, 209-228.
• Frequency analysis of Arabic vowels in connected speech
  
  Newman, D., & Verhoeven, J. (2002). Frequency analysis of Arabic vowels in connected speech. Antwerp Papers in Linguistics, 100, 77-86.
• Myths and Realities in Muslim Alterist Discourse: Arab Travellers in Europe in the Age of the Nahda (19th c.)
  
  Newman, D. (2002). Myths and Realities in Muslim Alterist Discourse: Arab Travellers in Europe in the Age of the Nahda (19th c.). Chronos : Revue D’histoire de L’Université de Balamand., 6, 7-76.
• The phonetic status of Arabic within the worlds languages: the uniqueness of the lughat al-daad
  
  Newman, D. (2002). The phonetic status of Arabic within the worlds languages: the uniqueness of the lughat al-daad. Antwerp Papers in Linguistics, 100, 65-75.
• Tunisian diplomatic representation in Europe in the 19th century: the controversy surrounding the establishment of Tunisian consulates in Belgium (1865-1866)
  
  Newman, D. (2002). Tunisian diplomatic representation in Europe in the 19th century: the controversy surrounding the establishment of Tunisian consulates in Belgium (1865-1866). Cahiers de Tunisie., 181, 27-46.
• The European Influence on Arabic during the Nahda : Lexical Borrowing from European Languages (ta'rib) in 19th-Century Literature.
  
  Newman, D. (2002). The European Influence on Arabic during the Nahda : LexicalBorrowing from European Languages (ta’rib) in 19th-Century Literature. 아랍어와아랍문학, 5(2), 1-32.
• Arab travellers to Europe until the end of the 18th century and their accounts: historical overviews and themes.
  
  Newman, D. (2001). Arab travellers to Europe until the end of the 18th century and their accounts: historical overviews and themes. Chronos : Revue D’histoire de L’Université de Balamand., 4, 7-61.
• Italy in Arabic travel literature until the end of the 19th century: cultural encounters and perceptions of the Other
  
  Newman, D. (2001). Italy in Arabic travel literature until the end of the 19th century: cultural encounters and perceptions of the Other. Equivalences, 29(1-2), 197-234.
• 19th-century Arabic Periodicals in Europe: The politics of Exile and Reformism
  
  Newman, D. (n.d.). 19th-century Arabic Periodicals in Europe: The politics of Exile and Reformism. Abgadiyat [Submitted].

Scholarly Edition

• The Exile’s Cookbook Medieval Gastronomic Treasures from al-Andalus and North Africa
  
  Newman, D. (2023). The Exile’s Cookbook Medieval Gastronomic Treasures from al-Andalus and North Africa. Saqi Books.
• The Sultan's Feast: A Fifteenth-Century Egyptian Cookbook
  
  Newman, D. L. (2020). The Sultan’s Feast: A Fifteenth-Century Egyptian Cookbook.
• The Sultan's Sex Potions: Arab Aphrodisiacs in the Middle Ages.
  
  Newman, D. (2014). The Sultan’s Sex Potions: Arab Aphrodisiacs in the Middle Ages.
• Muslim Women in Law and Society: Annotated translation of al-Tahir al-Haddad’s Imra‘tuna fi ‘l-shari'a wa 'l-mujtama', with an introduction.
  
  Newman, D., & Husni, R. (2007). Muslim Women in Law and Society: Annotated translation of al-Tahir al-Haddad’s Imra‘tuna fi ‘l-shari’a wa ’l-mujtama’, with an introduction.