Synopses & Reviews
"Darwish's poetry is an epic effort to transform the lyrics of loss into the indefinitely postponed drama of return." Edward Said, author, Orientalism
Blurring the boundaries between prose and poetry, this illuminating book explores the meaning of life, the impact of exile, and an existence spent in companionship with the specter of death. Partially autobiographical and marked by a sense of loss, it examines the nature of relationshipsparental, carnal, and, the most fragile of all, that with life itself. A hauntingly beautiful work, it is the first English translation of a perfect introduction to a poet of global significance.
About the Author
Mahmoud Darwish explored themes of lost Eden, exile, and life after death in his poetry and prose work and was the recipient of multiple awards, including the Lenin Peace Prize and the Lotus Prize. Though he resisted classification as a spokesperson for the Palestinian cause and refused to use his art for purely political ends, he was regarded as the Palestinian national poet in his lifetime. Mohammad Shaheen also translated Darwish's Almond Blossoms and Beyond.