Lady from Tel Aviv

Born in al-Majdal, Palestine, in 1945, Raba'i al-Madhoun is one of the Arab world's rising literary stars. His other works include The Idiot of Khan Younis and The Taste of Separation. The Lady from Tel Aviv is a bestseller in the Arab world. He is an editor at the leading Arabic daily, al-Sharq al-awsat. Author location; London, UK About the translator: Elliott Colla is a prominent translator of modern Arabic fiction, including novels by Ibrahim al-Koni, Ibrahim Aslan and Idris Ali. He currently teaches Arabic literature at Georgetown University, Washington, DC.

'Takes you to the height of reading pleasure' Elias Khoury 'Al-Madhoun brings Gaza vividly to life.' Selma Dabbagh 'Madhoun's depiction of the loving, claustrophobic, violent, beautiful, steadfast, endangered place that is Gaza is enthralling. - The Lady from Tel Aviv is an elegantly-written, intriguing, moving book. It is a surprisingly easy and enjoyable read, given the subject matter, but is also a valuable addition to the literature tackling themes such as Palestinian exile, occupation and homecoming. Whether one is looking for a striking piece of summer reading or a thought-provoking exploration of the Palestinian situation, this novel is a good place to start.' Electronic Intifada The Lady from Tel Aviv lays bare the harsh realities of dispossession, exile and occupation ... What is on offer is a serious but quirky slice-of-life conveyed by Madhoun's inventive imagery, wry humour and prose that lurches from the poetic to parody - Poignant - The Lady from Tel Aviv is a mature, honest appraisal of the meaning of estrangement and belonging - and all the nuances in between.' Jordan Times 'It would be a mistake to approach The Lady from Tel Aviv as either an exemplar of contemporary Arabic literature or as a literary discussion of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict. It is both, but to start reading with that in mind risks constraining one's appreciation of the book as a novel. - The Lady from Tel Aviv has almost as many layers as baklava, albeit not all of them sweet - Clever and lyrical - The Lady from Tel Aviv provides insights that newscasts, documentaries and articles can't. And al-Madhoun has a message that is worth learning: no matter how intractable a conflict may seem, there is always a lady from Tel Aviv.' Asian Review of Books 'The Lady from Tel Aviv is a story full of non-fulfilling meetings and memories - on both sides of the Israeli/Palestinian spectrum.' Chronicle