Description

‘A book that calls us to witness our place in history’ Sally Rooney

An urgent and moving essay on the Palestinian struggle and the power of narrative from the Women’s Prize shortlisted author of Enter Ghost.

Award-winning author 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, Recognising the Stranger is a brilliant melding of literary and cultural analysis in which Hammad sheds true light on the Palestinian struggle for freedom.

‘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

‘A reminder of the radical potential of reading and the possibility of change’ OLIVIA SUDJIC

‘Extraordinary and amazingly erudite’ RASHID KHALIDI

Publisher Review

Recognising the Stranger combines intellectual brilliance with moral clarity and profound resoluteness of purpose. This is a book that calls us to witness our place in history. Isabella Hammad deserves our thanks for sharing it with the world — 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 Extraordinary and amazingly erudite. Hammad shows how art and especially literature can be much, much more revealing than political writing — Rashid Khalidi Thought-provoking and timely, this lecture celebrates Said’s intellectual courage and enduring relevance while highlighting the cruelty in which Palestinians continue to live. Combining both her literary skill and acute power of observation, Hammad weaves together a diagnostic and powerful essay which will undoubtedly be appreciated for years to come — Diana Buttu