The Hezbollah Hiking Club: A short walk across the Lebanon

The Hezbollah Hiking Club is a humorous and affectionate love letter to Lebanon and its rich history, following three friends on a challenging hike across the country. With more than a smattering of persiflage and cringe-worthy moments, the book is a paean to friendship and growing old disgracefully.

Format: Hardback
Length: 320 pages
Publication date: 13 June 2019
Publisher: Little, Brown Book Group

Welcome to the Hezbollah Hiking Club!

At a lively cricket-filled afternoon at Lord's, Dom Joly persuades his two closest friends, Chris and Harry, to embark on an extraordinary adventure: a challenging hike across Lebanon, spanning from the Israeli border in the south to the Syrian border in the north. For Joly, it holds a special significance, as he grew up in Beirut. Despite attending school with Osama bin Laden, his childhood was filled with happiness.

Arriving in Lebanon, armed with copious amounts of Vaseline and limited walking experience, except for occasional dog walks, Dom, Chris, and Harry are in for a surprise. Accompanied by their bemused chaperone, Carol, they encounter a diverse range of characters along the way. Among them is Ali, a stern-faced Hezbollah Museum guide who remains unfazed by the circling Israeli jets, and Raf, a part-time Londoner who challenges Dom and the boys to a brain-freeze drinking contest.

From a spine-tingling encounter along the Valley of the Skulls to an accidental flashing of an unsuspecting Ethiopian cook, the three friends navigate through a series of hilarious and cringe-worthy moments. Despite the challenges, they manage to persevere.

The Hezbollah Hiking Club is a heartfelt and affectionate tribute to Lebanon and its rich history. At its core, it explores themes of family and homeland with a meditative reflection. Written in Dom's trademark humor, it celebrates the simple joys of friendship and the art of growing old disgracefully. This delightful book is a paean to both the pleasures of camaraderie and the indomitable spirit of Lebanon.

Weight: 518g
Dimension: 234 x 162 x 28 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781472128447