Lebanese author Elias Khoury, "who dedicated much of his writings to the Palestinian cause and taught at universities around the world, making him one of Lebanon's most prominent intellectuals," died September 15 at age 76, the Associated Press reported. In addition to his novels, Khoury wrote articles for several Arab media outlets over the past five decades.
Born and raised in Beirut, he was a leading voice of Arab literature and "outspoken in defense of freedom of speech and harsh criticism of dictatorships in the Middle East," the AP noted, adding that he "had been known for his political stances from his support of Palestinians to his harsh criticism of Israel and what he called its 'brutal' settling policy in Palestinian territories."
From 1992 until 2009, Khoury was the editor of the cultural section of Lebanon's leading An-Nahar newspaper. Until his death, he was the editor-in-chief of Palestine Studies, a bulletin issued by the Institute for Palestine Studies in Beirut.
His first novel was published in 1975, but his second, Little Mountain (1977), about Lebanon's devastating civil war, was more successful. Bab al-Shams (Gate of the Sun) was released in 2000 and focused on Palestinian refugees in Lebanon since 1948. A film adaptation was made in Egypt.
Archipelago Books, which will publish his novel Star of the Sea next month, posted on social media: "We are mourning the loss of Elias Khoury. His fictions are layered with ideas that shift under foot. A public intellectual who wrote novels, essays, and reportage, Khoury led an exceptionally rich life. He was an unflagging champion of the Palestinian people and spoke out against dictatorships in the Arab world and beyond. In his youth, he cared for Palestinian refugees in refugee camps outside of Amman, and later joined the Fatah. For many, Khoury's novel Gate of the Sun, translated by Humphrey Davies, is a life-changing and life-affirming work. We have also published five other novels of Khoury's, each one formally inventive and ambitious, with deep emotional and political implications. Khoury's humor and compassion emerge again and again in his writing."
Yasmina Jraissati, Khoury's niece and agent, said, " 'Unwavering' is perhaps the word that best characterizes Elias. He was unwavering in his commitment to social justice, in his criticism of the corrupt Lebanese state and Arab dictatorships, in his championing of the Palestinian cause, and in his love for life despite all the horrors he bore witness to in his writing."
Little Mountain is available from Picador, and Gate of the Sun is available from Archipelago Books.
