Recognising the Stranger : On Palestine and Narrative
(Autor) Isabella Hammad*FROM THE WOMEN'S PRIZE FOR FICTION-SHORTLISTED AUTHOR OF ENTER GHOST* 'Recognising the Stranger combines intellectual brilliance with moral clarity and profound resoluteness of purpose.' SALLY ROONEY 'A pitch-perfect example of how the novelist can get to the heart of the matter better than a million argumentative articles. Hammad shows us how the Palestinian struggle is the story of humanity itself, and asks us not to look away but to see ourselves.' MAX PORTER 'Hammad's writing burns with fierce intelligence, humane insight and righteous anger. For those at risk of despair, doubtful of the role literature has to play in times of crisis, it is a reminder of the radical potential of reading and the possibility of change.' OLIVIA SUDJIC Award-winning author of The Parisian and Enter Ghost Isabella Hammad delivered the Edward W. Said Lecture at Columbia University nine days before 7 October 2023. The text of Hammad's seminal speech and her afterword written in the early weeks of 2024 together make up a searing appraisal of the war on Palestine during what feels like a turning point in the narrative of human history. Moving and erudite, Hammad writes from within the moment, shedding light on the Palestinian struggle for freedom. Recognising the Stranger is a brilliant melding of literary and cultural analysis by one of Granta's Best of Young British Novelists and a foremost writer of fiction in the world today.
Isabella Hammad
Isabella Hammad is a British-Palestinian author known for her debut novel "The Parisian," which was shortlisted for the 2019 Dylan Thomas Prize and longlisted for the 2019 HWA Debut Crown Award. Hammad's writing style is characterized by its lyrical prose and meticulous attention to historical detail. "The Parisian" explores themes of identity, love, and political upheaval against the backdrop of World War I and the Palestinian struggle for independence. Hammad's work has been praised for its powerful storytelling and deep emotional resonance, making her a rising star in the literary world.