Unfortunately, It Was Paradise

By Mahmoud Darwish, Sinan Antoon (editor), Amira El-Zein (editor) , Munir Akash (translator) , Carolyn Forché (translator)

Book cover of Unfortunately, It Was Paradise: Selected Poems

Book description

Mahmoud Darwish is a literary rarity: at once critically acclaimed as one of the most important poets in the Arabic language, and beloved as the voice of his people. A legend in Palestine, his lyrics are sung by fieldworkers and schoolchildren. He has assimilated some of the world's oldest literary…

When you buy books, we may earn a commission that helps keep our lights on (or join the rebellion as a member).

Why read it?

2 authors picked Unfortunately, It Was Paradise as one of their favorite books. Why do they recommend it?

Mahmoud Darwish is without a doubt the national Palestinian poet, who expresses the experience of millions of Palestinians across generations.

Whether he is writing about exile, love, or death, his poetic voice reverberates simultaneously in the soul, the intellect, and the body. Darwish speaks with the intimacy of someone who is not afraid to be vulnerable and the authority of a poet who believes that poetry can change the world.

This collection gathers together the best translations of his poems by American poet Carolyn Forché working in collaboration with Munir Akash, and includes commentary by the important Arabic writers Sinan…

From Rebecca's list on Palestinian liberation.

Mahmoud Darwish is often described as Palestine’s national poet. He was born in the Galilee and his poems reflected his life as an Israeli Arab and chronicler of the Palestinian struggle. He increasingly became recognized as a poet of international significance, though one working in a long tradition of Arabic poetry. The imagery of his poems is remarkable, and he is also known for his extraordinary aphorisms, for example: "Nothing is harder on the soul than the smell of dreams, while they're evaporating." Exile, displacement, and suffering are all there, but done in a way that is lyrical not finger-wagging…

Want books like Unfortunately, It Was Paradise?

Our community of 12,000+ authors has personally recommended 67 books like Unfortunately, It Was Paradise.

Browse books like Unfortunately, It Was Paradise

Book cover of Sea of Poppies
Book cover of The Dispersion: A History of the Word Diaspora
Book cover of New Diasporas: The Mass Exodus, Dispersal and Regrouping of Migrant Communities

Share your top 3 reads of 2024!

And get a beautiful page showing off your 3 favorite reads.

1,604

readers submitted
so far, will you?

5 book lists we think you will like!

Interested in Palestinians, Israel and Palestine, and Palestine?

Palestinians 57 books
Palestine 54 books