Elias Khoury
Humanized Palestinian narrative through literature
Date of Birth:
1948
Beirut, Lebanon
Place of Birth:
Why Featured?
His writings, especially Gate of the Sun, preserve Palestinian memory and struggle, cementing his role as a cultural voice for Palestine.
Brief bio
Elias Khoury is a renowned Lebanese novelist, playwright, and public intellectual who has dedicated much of his literary career to advocating for Palestinian rights and telling the story of their displacement. His most famous novel, Gate of the Sun (1998), provides a powerful narrative of the Nakba, capturing the pain of Palestinian refugees and ensuring their stories are not forgotten. Through his work, Khoury has become a leading literary figure in the Arab world, highlighting the Palestinian struggle and using fiction to resist the erasure of Palestinian history.
Major Milestones
Contributions
Joined the Palestinian resistance in 1967: At the age of 19, Khoury traveled to Jordan to join the Palestinian resistance after the Israeli occupation of the West Bank and Gaza.
Published Gate of the Sun (1998): This epic novel, based on stories from Palestinian refugee camps, became a landmark work on the Nakba and Palestinian displacement.
Editor of Palestinian Affairs Magazine (1975-1979): Collaborated with Mahmoud Darwish, contributing to the political and cultural discussions surrounding Palestinian rights.
Led the Beirut Theater (1993-1999): Directed cultural and political activities that brought attention to Palestine, including events commemorating the Nakba.
Received multiple international awards: Khoury won the State of Palestine Prize in 2000 and the Al Owais Award for Fiction in 2007, solidifying his place as a key literary figure advocating for Palestine.
Humanized the Palestinian experience through literature: Khoury’s works, particularly Gate of the Sun, bring personal and emotional depth to the Palestinian story, making it accessible and relatable to a global audience.
Preserved Palestinian memory: His novels document the stories of Palestinian refugees, ensuring that the events of 1948 and their consequences are not forgotten.
Fought against the erasure of Palestinian history: Through his writings and activism, Khoury continues to resist efforts to erase the narrative of Palestinian displacement and suffering under Israeli occupation.
Elevated Palestinian voices in international discourse: His books have been translated into multiple languages, amplifying Palestinian perspectives in global literary and academic circles...See More
Promoted cultural resistance: As a public intellectual and editor, Khoury has been a prominent advocate for the role of culture and storytelling in the Palestinian resistance against occupation.
Date of Last Update:
November 10, 2024
See similar profiles
Show your support — share their legacy with your friends & followers!