'Nakba,' catastrophe, commonly refers to the massive exodus of Palestinians after the formation of Israel in 1948. In Elias Khoury's account, Nakba does not refer to a historical moment. Rather, he considers it to be is a process that began in 1948 and is perpetuated in literary depictions of Palestinians.
One of the most influential voices of contemporary Arab literature for more than four decades, Elias Khoury has been writing from a liminal position in his residence in Beirut, exiled in his own home. The protagonists in his novels navigate the fugitive boundaries of violence, displacement, lust, and longing.

Hosted by: Center for South Asian and Middle Eastern Studies

In conjunction with: Center for Global Studies, Center for Translation Studies, Department of Comparative and World Literature, Department of English, Department of History, Spurlock Museum, Unit for Criticism and Interpretive Theory

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