Writers from Michael Palin to Claire Messud, Michael Ondaatje to Richard Ford have spent a week crossing military checkpoints to perform literary events across Palestine. Their words are now collected in a breathtakingly original book of new writing
Ahdaf Soueif is the author of the Booker
Prize-shortlisted The Map of Love as well as the memoir of the
January 2011 revolution, Cairo: A City Transformed. She co-founded
the Palestine Festival of Literature and was awarded the Hay Medal
for Festivals 2017 for her work on PalFest. She is based in both
Cairo and London.
ahdafsoueif.com
Omar Robert Hamilton is an award-winning filmmaker and
writer. He co-founded the Palestine Festival of Literature and the
Mosireen media collective in Cairo. He is based between Cairo and
New York.
orhamilton.com
A literary festival as well as a journey ... it has made me quite
poignantly aware of what the occupation means to people and of
their determination to speak up for the writers and musicians who
feel that the occupation has taken their voice away ... An
eye-opening experience
*Michael Palin*
Every literary act, whether it is a great epic poem or an honest
piece of journalism or a simple nonsense tale for children is a
blow against the forces of stupidity and ignorance and darkness …
The Palestine Festival of Literature exists to do just that – and I
salute it for its work. Not only this year but for as long as it is
necessary
*Philip Pullman*
PalFest is not only the most powerful and important literary
festival it’s ever been my privilege to attend, it’s one of the
most powerful and important things I’ve experienced, full stop
*China Miéville*
PalFest has quickly established itself a much-loved international
festival. As a charity, it is unique in bringing creativity,
beauty, partnership, and tolerance into all our lives, and I can't
think of many cultural institutions more deserving of our full
support
*Andrew O'Hagan*
It's a festival like no other. It is so much more than a festival.
Stimulating and enjoyable - I hope so anyway! – for the
Palestinians, it is an eye-opening and moving educational
experience for the visiting participants … A vital part of the
cultural and political calendar
*Geoff Dyer*
The festival is a recognition of the independent life of the
Palestinian people. Coming through the invisible barrier of fear
has actually filled me with hope. I found deep humanity on the
other side
*Adam Foulds*
PalFest’s uniqueness stems from the fact that during the day it
allows writers to carry out that most important of writerly tasks –
bear witness … We go to PalFest to feel ourselves part of the
world
*Kamila Shamsie*
PalFest is a necessary, confronting and enlightening event for
anyone with an interest in writing, freedom and human rights … A
life-changing experience
*Bidisha*
Thanks for being who you are and for giving us such exposure to
wonderful people. Palestine is proud of you
*Suad Amiry*
Truly life-changing … As a human being and as a writer, this was a
revelatory experience
*William Sutcliffe*
Packed with so much genius and courage and heart I don’t know what
to say except thank you and I have new favourite writers
*Molly Crabapple*
The most rewarding – and challenging – literary festival a writer
could hope to take part in
*Jeremy Harding*
One of the most affecting trips of my life
*Sabrina Mahfouz*
PalFest is a visionary enterprise, there is nothing like it
anywhere else in the world that I know of, the radiant intimacy of
writing, live audiences, bodies and souls touching, all in a land
surviving under occupation
*Meena Alexander*
This anthology will help turn your intellectual understanding of
oppression into an emotional one
*New Statesman*
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