Hikayat: Short Stories by Lebanese Women

“We could hardly need these more urgently than we do now.”—The Independent

“…A treasure for Western readers who want to familiarize themselves with the complexities of both Lebanese and Palestinian societies as war zones. The stories also constitute an excellent resource for teachers who are struggling to find material that is not one-dimensional in its presentation of Arab women.”-Hala Khamis Nassar, Yale University, in Journal of Middle East Women's Studies

This anthology of Lebanese women fiction writers offers a captivating mix of stories by published authors with established reputations alongside the narratives of younger women whose voices explore new terrain.

From the crippling effects of the civil war in past decades, through longing for romantic adventures in a conservative society, to the functioning of families across the divides of emigration and generational conflict, these voices reflect the rich diversity of the complex multicultural society out of which they emerged.

Roseanne Saad Khalaf is assistant professor of English and creative writing at the American University of Beirut.