It is clear that the destiny of Palestine has had a deep and positive impact in the development of contemporary studies about the Arab world in American and European universities. It has also created a militant attitude that has highlighted the ideological aspects and political commitment of literary works. This has probably been the most common reading of modern Arabic (and particularly Palestinian) literature, resulting in a strong and enduring bond between the surface text of literature and politics. However, recent work goes beyond the analysis of Arabic literary texts as historical, sociological or political documents that characterized Western scholarship on Arabic literature during the 20th century. This new treatment is uncovering nuances and complexities for Palestinian literature that has long been recognized for other literary traditions. Mahmud Darwish may be the author who best exemplifies the course taken by Palestinian literature and its translation and reception in recent decades. The earliest translations into English, Spanish and French of Darwish in 1960s appeared in the markedly political atmosphere after the disaster of 1967. After that, Darwish was published for decades in fragments or anthologies in narrowly defined political contexts. The first complete translations of Darwish’s diwans did not appear until many years later. Has Darwish ceased to be an exclusively political symbol and a cause, to become at last a writer that shares space with the great authors of the 20th century? Are Darwish’s works to be found where they belong, with publishing houses that focus on literature, rather than on the author's origin or political commitment?