Leila Chatti

Leila Chatti is a Tunisian-American poet.

She is recognised for her exploration in her poetry of themes such as identity, illness and the female body. Chatti has received numerous accolades for her work, and her poetry has been widely published in literary journals and anthologies.

Early life and education

Leila Chatti was born to a Tunisian father and an American mother. She spent her childhood in both Tunisia and the United States, experiences that deeply influence her poetry. Chatti holds an MFA in Creative Writing from North Carolina State University and an MFA in Poetry from the University of Wisconsin–Madison, where she was awarded the Diane Middlebrook Poetry Fellowship at the Wisconsin Institute for Creative Writing.

Works

Chatti's poems have been published in numerous literary journals and magazines, including '' Ploughshares'', '' The New York Times Magazine'', '' Tin House'', '' The American Poetry Review'' and '' The Kenyon Review''. Her work has also been featured in several anthologies, highlighting her contributions to contemporary poetry.

Chatti's poetry often explores the intersections of identity, particularly the experience of being a woman and a Muslim in contemporary society. Her work is known for its exploration of bodily autonomy, faith and the complexities of cultural heritage.

Chatti's debut full-length collection, ''Deluge'', was published by Copper Canyon Press in 2020. The collection received critical acclaim for its examination of illness and the female body, drawing from Chatti's personal experiences with a life-threatening medical condition.
'' Publishers Weekly'' described ''Deluge'' as a "stunning debut" that "expertly examines the interplay of faith, illness, and identity".
''Library Journal'' praised the collection for its "intensity and lyrical precision," noting that Chatti's poems are "deeply personal and universally resonant".
'' The Rumpus'' highlighted the collection's "unflinching honesty and lyrical power", calling it "a vital addition to contemporary poetry".

Her chapbooks include ''Ebb'' (2018) and ''Tunsiya/Amrikiya'' (2018).
Chatti's work is noted for its lyrical intensity and exploration of cultural and religious identity.

Recognition and awards

Chatti has received several awards and fellowships, including:

* The 2017 Bull City Press Frost Place Chapbook Competition for ''Tunsiya/Amrikiya''
* The Ploughshares Emerging Writer's Contest in Poetry
* The Gregory O'Donoghue International Poetry Prize
* ''The New York Times Magazine'' Poet in Residence

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Chatti, Leila
Year of birth missing (living people)
Place of birth missing (living people)
Living people
21st-century American poets
21st-century American women writers
21st-century Tunisian poets
21st-century Tunisian women writers
American women poets
Chapbook writers
North Carolina State University alumni
Poets from North Carolina
Poets from Wisconsin
University of Wisconsin–Madison alumni
Writers from Madison, Wisconsin
Writers from Raleigh, North Carolina