Strangers in the House

Praise

“An invaluable resource — a moving and heartfelt document that captures the rage and despair of lives stunted by occupation.” – Washington Post

“Unusually honest, beautifully written… The power of Raja Shehadeh’s memoir derives from his willingness, rare among Palestinian writers, to probe the emotional and political limits of his own society… Few Palestinians have opened their minds and hearts with such frankness.” — New York Times Book Review 

“Shehadeh’s views… strongly shaped by his work in human-rights law, are reinforced here by reflections on his own life. This book is distinctive and truly impressive.” – The Economist

“[A] stunning autobiography… Strangers In the House [is] a profoundly moving testimony to modern Palestinian life, a more powerful explanation of the Middle Eastern crisis than dozens of lectures and pages of newspaper articles…. It is a book without conventional heroes, a brave and honest testimony to what has failed in the Middle East and what must come to pass if peace will ever be a possibility. More than a single man’s life, it succeeds in untangling the reality behind Palestinian headlines, chronicling how the last 52 years have impacted not just reactionaries and demonstrators, but ordinary human beings.” – The Daily Star (Beirut)

“In this fascinating memoir, leading Palestinian lawyer Shehadeh offers a chilling and moving view of life inside the Occupied Territories…. Anyone seeking a nuanced view of Palestinian experience should read this brave and lyrical book.” —Publishers Weekly

“This book brings an eloquent, understated voice to an often contentious chorus and should help in opening dialogue between Christians, Jews, and Muslims about the future of our holy lands.” – Booklist

“A memoir both political and personal, offering a human and humane perspective.” – KIRKUS REVIEWS 

” A remarkable human document that explains better than a hundred political treatises why there is still no peace in the Middle East.” — Amos Elon