In this episode we speak with writer Elias Khoury about his literary beginnings, his work at periodicals such as Mawaqif and Shu’un Filastiniyya, and the notion of the Nakba as an ongoing event.

Elias Khoury is a writer, editor, and critic born in Beirut in 1948. He studied social history in Paris before returning to Beirut to work for various periodicals such as Mawaqif, Shu’un Filastiniyya, al-Karmel, and since 2011 Majallat al-Dirasat al-Filastiniyya. Since the 1970s he has published novels such as Gate of the Sun (1998) and the trilogy Children of the Ghetto (2016, 2019, 2023). He has taught at several universities such as Columbia University, New York University, and the American University of Beirut.

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Produced by the PalREAD – Country of Words project, funded by the European Research Council (ERC)

Interviewer: Lama Abu Kharroub

Writer, Producer and Editor: Ibrahim Abdou

Host & Concept Design: Refqa Abu-Remaileh

Sound Technician: Ali Tiran

Sound Editing & Design: Ziad Fayed

VO Recording: Gianpiero Tari

Music: “The Astounding Eyes of Rita” by Anouar Brahem (ECM Records, 2009)

Cover Art: Alexandra Sophia Handal

Production, logistics and technical support: Sowt