Hassan Daoud is a Lebanese writer and journalist whose early life in Beirut and studies in Arabic literature shaped his later work. His journalistic career began during the Lebanese Civil War, providing him with a unique perspective on societal and political upheaval. His extensive fiction writing, encompassing novels and short stories, likely delves into themes informed by these experiences. His works, some translated into English, highlight his significance within contemporary Arabic literature.
In a village in Lebanon, an old man prepares for his final journey. But right to the end he remains defiant - against his age, his failing body and the whims of memory; against the idle life his children try to impose on him; and, against their indifference, cruelty and greed. Fear arises and subsides in him like a tide.
Set against the backdrop of exile from Beirut, the narrative explores the struggles of a family grappling with confinement and the weight of unfulfilled hopes for returning home. Tensions arise as they navigate their complex relationships, grappling with past traumas and the harsh realities of their current situation. The story delves into themes of belonging, memory, and the impact of displacement on familial bonds.
Set against the backdrop of 1960s Beirut, the narrative offers a heartfelt and humorous exploration of the city's vibrant transformation. It captures the complexities of life during a time of change, highlighting the unique cultural and social dynamics that define the era. Through its vivid portrayal, the book delves into the hopes and challenges faced by its characters as they navigate a rapidly evolving landscape.
When the imam of a small town in Southern Lebanon is diagnosed with cancer, the illness he fears and has expected for years, he takes the radical decision to abandon the life he inherited from his father. He was persuaded to wear the robe and turban in his youth to preserve the family tradition and entered into an arranged marriage. While his grandfather and father were once powerful imams, he displays no interest in the mosque. The wife, for whom he feels no affection, attends to her chores and nurses his father, now sick and bedridden, in his house. Though he worries about his two sons, who were born deaf and mute, he takes no measures to secure a special education for them.