My First and Only Love

In her novel "Nidal's Daughter," Sahar Khalifeh explores the theme of love and resistance through the eyes of a young girl named Nidal, who returns to her family home in Nablus after many decades of exile. Nidal falls in love with a freedom fighter named Rabie, who represents Palestine in its youth, the resistance fighters in the hills, and the nation as embodied in her family home and in the land. Through the reading of her uncle Amins memoirs, Nidal discovers the secret history of her absent mother and becomes filled with emotional urgency and political immediacy.

\n Format: Paperback / softback
\n Length: 400 pages
\n Publication date: 23 March 2021
\n Publisher: The American University in Cairo Press
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Acclaimed writer Sahar Khalifeh's novel "Nidal" is a deeply poetic exploration of love and resistance through the eyes of a young girl. Set in the aftermath of the 1948 Nakba, the novel follows Nidal, who returns to her family home in Nablus after decades of exile. As a young girl, Nidal witnesses the beginning of the popular resistance and falls in love with freedom fighter Rabie. Rabie represents the youthful spirit of Palestine, the resistance fighters in the hills, and the nation as embodied in Nidal's family home and the land.

Years later, Nidal and Rabie meet, and Rabie encourages her to read her uncle Amin's memoirs. Through these memoirs, Nidal discovers the secret history of her absent mother and gains a deeper understanding of her family and national past.

"Nidal" is a powerful and emotional tale that spans from the final days of the British Mandate to the present. Khalifeh weaves a rich tapestry of characters and events, offering a clear-eyed realism and great imagination. The novel explores themes of identity, loss, and the struggle for liberation, resonating with readers on a personal and political level.

With its poetic prose and vivid portrayal of a complex historical period, "Nidal" has been praised by critics as a masterpiece of Palestinian literature, earning Sahar Khalifeh the nickname "the Virginia Woolf of Palestinian literature." The novel's impact extends beyond its pages, as it contributes to the ongoing conversation about the legacy of the Nakba and the ongoing struggle for Palestinian rights.

In conclusion, "Nidal" is a remarkable novel that offers a profound and captivating exploration of love, resistance, and the complexities of identity. Through the eyes of a young girl, Sahar Khalifeh weaves a tale that resonates with readers on a personal and political level, contributing to the ongoing conversation about the legacy of the Nakba and the ongoing struggle for Palestinian rights.

\n Weight: 384g\n
Dimension: 131 x 206 x 33 (mm)\n
ISBN-13: 9789774169830\n \n