A Ball State professor who co-wrote a book with her late husband recently had the the work translated into Arabic by the U.S. Department of State Book Translation Program.
Julia Corbett, a professor of philosophy and religious studies, said the book, "Politics and Religion in the United States," was a project six years in the making with her late husband, Michael Corbett.
For Corbett, the book quickly became a summary of the couple's professional lives together.
"It was fun doing the project," Corbett said. "It was fun to team teach with him in the classroom."
Corbett's husband, a former Ball State political science professor, died in November 2001, shortly before the book was published.
"We had no intention of this book ever being translated to another language," she said.
Corbett said it never crossed her mind until a Fed-Ex man arrived at her doorstep and handed her a box and a contract. The box contained two books translated into Arabic.
"I was very surprised and very pleased," Corbett said.
Corbett said the government probably translated the book into Arabic was because the language is timely and current. She said she also feels the translation is important because Arabic is the official language of Islam.
"It's important for people in any culture to know how religion and politics interact within their own culture," she said. "People need to be able to step back and see how they relate, rather than assume that theirs is the best."
Corbett said the book, which was published by Garland Publishing, came about after a publisher friend asked the couple to write a book together.
"It's unique because it sets the contemporary discussion of politics and religion in the entire scope of the United States history," Corbett said.
Corbett said the political text is beneficial because it relates contemporary issues to historical issues, as well as informing people about topics such as politics and religion.
"It's not going to make them (those who read the book) change what they believe, but it will give them a better understanding of differences in American politics and religion," Corbett said.
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