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14 Must-Read Books About Lebanon
Whether you’re a bookworm or someone who is just curious to read about Lebanon, we compiled a list of must-read books for you to add to your bookshelf that will teach you a thing or two about Lebanon and it’s history.
Note: The list includes novels which either mention/revolve around the Lebanese experience or are set in the context of Lebanon, particularly prior, during, and after the Lebanese civil war.
1. Sitt Marie Rose by Etel Adnan
This novel is based on a true story, inspired by the life of Marie Rose Boulos who was executed by militiamen during the civil war. Divided into two major parts, the novel tells the story of her death from the viewpoints of multiple narrators, including the “deaf-mute school of children” that she teaches.
2. Beirut by Samir Kassir
A widely praised book that is a must-read for anyone wanting to unpack Lebanon’s battle of modernity and democracy as the country witnessed major changes all throughout the 19th and 20th century, leading up to the Lebanese civil war.
3. Teta, Mother, and Me by Jean Said Makdisi
This memoir doesn’t majorly focus on Lebanon as much as it passes through it, but it is an excellent read nonetheless. Makdisi discusses the lives of three generations of Palestinian women in her family, often juggling personal experiences with major political changes that are occurring in the region at the time.
4. An Unnecessary Woman by Rabih Alameddine
Rabih Alameddine tells the story of a 72-year-old woman living in Beirut as she reflects on her past experiences and tries to decide whether she lived a meaningful and “necessary” life. Another excellent read by Alameddine that also gives a glimpse into Lebanese history is Koolaids: The Art of War.
5. The Mehlis Report by Rabee Jaber
One of his many acclaimed works, The Mehlis Report journeys through Lebanese history and the report by German prosecutor Detlev Mehlis that was submitted to the United Nations as part of the investigation into the assassination of former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri.
6. A House of Many Mansions by Kamal Salibi
Historian Kamal Salibi reconsiders Lebanon’s divided history and attempts to construct political unity in a faction-ridden country. The book focuses on building an Arab identity between opposing affiliates whose communities share more in common than they think.
7. Bareed Al-Layl by Hoda Barakat
Bareed Al-Layl is an award-winning novel that includes a series of 6 letters that discuss the themes of exile. The country of exile is not explicitly mentioned, but it gives insight into the life of those escaping their countries and adjusting to their new life in Europe.
8. White Masks by Elias Khoury
The novel revolves around a murder investigation, as a journalist conducts interview after interview to find out why a body turned up dead on the streets of Beirut. Each interview tells bits and pieces about the victim’s story, and the interviewees often go on tangents and discuss unrelated matters.
9. Between Beirut and the Moon by Naji Bakhti
A comical coming-of-age story that revolves around a group of young and ambitions friends who are attempting to disconnect themselves from the complex political turmoil of post-war Beirut. The story is told from the point of view of a young boy who dreams of becoming an astronaut.
10. June Rain by Jabbour Douaihy
Jabbour Douaihy takes on themes of masculinity and violence as he narrates the conflicts between two rival families in a northern village in Lebanon and how the horrors of internal divisions affect many generations to come.
11. War’s Other Voices: Women Writers on the Lebanese Civil War by Miriam Cooke
Many have narrated stories of the Lebanese Civil War, but this book highlights the voices of women writers. Miriam Cooke talks about the women writers who have been excluded from literary and social discourse, calling them Beirut Decentrists.
12. House of Stone by Anthony Shadid
Anthony Shadid’s memoir discusses how the project of restoring his grandmother’s family home turned into restoring his own spirit after years of working in war-reporting as a correspondent for the New York Times in Baghdad and Beirut.
13. Beirut Hellfire Society by Rawi Hage
Rawi Hage is an acclaimed Lebanese writer with thrilling narratives set against the backdrop of the Lebanese Civil War. After his father’s sudden death, Pavlov is approached by an anti-religious, pagan-like sect that arrange burials and cremations for outcasts who have been shunned for many reasons, including homosexuality.
14. Beirut Noir by Iman Humaydan
A regional title that is part of the Arashic Books Noir series, this collection of short stories were curated by Ian Humaydan. Each chapter is a narrative from a different neighborhood in Beirut, giving something of a rounded experience of what was going on in the war-torn city.
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