Mahmoud Shukair Books

Set against the backdrop of post-1948 Palestine, the narrative follows Muhammad al-Asghar, the youngest son of a Bedouin patriarch, as he grapples with the weight of leadership and tradition. Torn between familial expectations and his aspirations to become a writer, he documents the lives of his clan members, revealing the complexities of their relationships and the challenges faced by women in a patriarchal society. Through humor and warmth, the story explores themes of identity, legacy, and the struggle to find one's voice amid cultural upheaval.

By turns bleak, nostalgic, and lighthearted, Jerusalem Stands Alone explores the interconnected lives of its mostly Palestinian cast. The stories, entwined around themes of family and identity, diverge in viewpoint and chronology but ultimately unite to reveal the tapestry of Palestinian Jerusalem.