My Name is Adam
My Name is Adam by Ilyās Khūrī, published by MacLehose Press in 2018, is a literary work that delves into the complexities of identity and history. This edition, available in English and spanning 444 pages, follows Adam Dannoun as he uncovers the hidden truths of his past shortly before his tragic death in a fire. An encounter with Blind Mahmoud, a significant figure from his childhood, prompts Adam to explore the events of 1948 in Palestine, particularly in Lydda, revealing a narrative steeped in historical significance.
Readers will find a rich tapestry of stories that reflect themes of family life and resilience amidst adversity. As Adam investigates the massacre and the forced displacement of citizens, he gathers accounts that highlight bravery and ingenuity in the face of hardship. This exploration not only sheds light on personal revelations but also connects to broader historical contexts in the Middle East, particularly regarding Israel and Palestine. Translated from Arabic by Humphrey Davies, this edition offers a profound insight into the human experience shaped by historical events.
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“Khoury is one of the greatest writers of our times and perhaps the greatest Arabic-language writer of this generation, definite Nobel Prize material” Avraham Burg, Haaretz
Who is Adam Dannoun?
Until a few months before his death in a fire in his New York apartment – a consequence of smoking in bed – he thought he knew.
But an encounter with Blind Mahmoud, a father figure from his childhood, changed all that. From Mahmoud he learned the terrible truth behind his birth, a truth withheld from him for fifty-seven years by the woman he thought was his mother.
This discovery leads Adam to investigate what exactly happened in 1948 in Palestine in the city of Lydda where he was born: the massacre, the forced march into the wilderness and the corralling of those citizens who did not flee into what the Israeli soldiers and their Palestinian captives came to refer to as the Ghetto.
The stories he collects speak of bravery, ingenuity and resolve in the face of unimaginable hardship. Saved from the flames that claimed him, they are his lasting and crucial testament.
Translated from the Arabic by Humphrey Davies
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