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The Exiled Prophet: Selected Fiction by Naji Dhaher introduces readers to the illuminating and emotional works of Naji Dhaher, an influential Palestinian writer whose family was displaced during the 1948 Palestine war. Inspired by his own experiences, Dhaher’s fiction examines the psychological effects of the Nakba on the children of exiled Palestinians who continued to live within the newly formed state of Israel.

The collection begins by presenting readers with the historical background necessary to fully understand Dhaher’s works, including readings on the nature of Palestinian literature after the Nakba, mass exodus and relocation in Lebanon, Palestinian resistance literature, and Dhaher’s biography. Part II offers readers selected short stories by Dhaher, translated from Arabic to English. The stories reflect themes that are central to Dhaher’s work—human suffering, the concept of the human being within an eternal cycle, and alienation. The final part of the anthology is comprised of “The Owl Neighborhood,” a novella written by Dhaher.

The Exiled Prophet is an excellent supplementary text for courses in Arab–Israeli conflict, contemporary modern Arabic literature, and Palestinian resistance literature.

The Exiled Prophet