The Literature Of The Lebanese Diaspora ─ Representations of Place and National Identity

The Lebanese civil war, which spanned the years of 1975 to 1990, caused the migration of several thousands of Lebanese citizens, many of whom are still writing of their experiences. Jumana Bayeh here presents an important and major study of the literature of the Lebanese diaspora. Focusing on novels and writings produced in the aftermath of Lebanon's protracted civil war, Bayeh explores the complex relationships between place, displacement and belonging, and illuminates the ways in which these writings have shaped a global Lebanese identity. Combining history with sociology, Bayeh examines how the literature borne out of this expatriate community reflects a Lebanese diasporic imaginary that is sensitive to the entangled associations of place and identity. Paving the way for new approaches to understanding diasporic literature and identity, this book will be vital for researchers of migration studies and Middle Eastern literature, as well as those interested in the cultures and history of the Middle East.

Jumana Bayeh is an Early Career Fellow in the Department of Modern History, Politics and International Relations at Macquarie University, Australia. She was most recently a Visiting Research Fellow at the University of Edinburgh's Institute for Advanced Studies in the Humanities and has held fellowships at the University of Copenhagen and the Lebanese American University in Beirut. She holds a PhD from Macquarie University.