Syria — The Book Roads

Books from Syria

Tariq Ali

Set in the twelfth century, The Book of Saladin reimagines the life of Salah al-Din, better known as Saladin, the Kurdish Muslim ruler who united Egypt and Syria and recaptured Jerusalem from the Crusaders in 1187. The novel takes the form of Saladin’s fictional memoir, dictated to Ibn Yakub, a Jewish scribe tasked with recording the Sultan’s life and achievements. To create a fuller portrait of his subject, Ibn Yakub interviews Saladin’s wives, servants, and companions, revealing the private relationships and personal ambitions behind the public image of a celebrated military leader. As Saladin rises to power and prepares to reclaim Jerusalem, the narrative explores the political rivalries, religious tensions, and fragile alliances that shape his world. Alongside military campaigns and diplomatic intrigue, the novel delves into the intimate lives of the royal household, including a passionate relationship between Saladin’s favoured wife, Jamila, and another woman in the harem, Halima. Ali presents a complex portrait of medieval Muslim society, challenging simplified accounts of the Crusades and exploring the contradictions between political ideals and personal desires. Questions of faith, power, loyalty, sexuality, and cultural coexistence run throughout the story, connecting the struggles of the medieval world with conflicts that continue to resonate today.

2026

The Beekeeper of Aleppo

Christy Lefteri

The Beekeeper of Aleppo follows Nuri, a beekeeper, and his wife, Afra, an artist, as their peaceful life in Syria is destroyed by war. After suffering devastating personal losses, the couple are forced to leave their home and embark on a dangerous journey towards Britain in search of safety. Afra has lost her sight following a traumatic experience, while Nuri struggles with his own grief and the responsibility of protecting them both. As they travel through unfamiliar countries and refugee camps, their physical journey becomes intertwined with the emotional struggle to recover from trauma. Through their experiences, Lefteri explores displacement, loss, resilience, and the psychological consequences of conflict. The novel offers an intimate portrait of refugees whose lives have been transformed by circumstances beyond their control.

2019

As Long As the Lemon Trees Grow

Zoulfa Katouh

Set during the Syrian revolution and the ensuing civil war, As Long as the Lemon Trees Grow follows Salama, a young pharmacy student who becomes a medical volunteer in a hospital in Homs. Once hopeful about her future, she now witnesses the devastating effects of violence while struggling with the trauma of losing loved ones and the responsibility of protecting those who remain. Haunted by an imagined companion named Khawf, whose presence reflects her fear and inner conflict, Salama faces an agonising choice: stay in Syria to help her community or flee the country in search of safety. Her growing relationship with Kenan, a young man who dreams of a future beyond the war, offers a fragile source of hope. Katouh explores courage, grief, love, and the moral dilemmas faced by ordinary people caught in extraordinary circumstances.

2022

Famous authors from Syria

About Syria

Syria is a country in the Middle East, at the crossroads of the Mediterranean and the ancient trade routes connecting Asia, Africa, and Europe. Its landscapes range from the fertile Mediterranean coast and agricultural plains to the deserts of the east and the mountains of the west. For centuries, Syria has been home to diverse civilizations, including the Arameans, Greeks, Romans, Byzantines, and successive Islamic dynasties. Its historic cities, particularly Damascus and Aleppo, preserve traces of this layered past in their ancient markets, courtyards, mosques, churches, and traditional houses. Arabic is the official language, while Kurdish, Syriac, Armenian, and other languages reflect the country’s diverse communities. Despite the devastating impact of recent conflict and displacement, Syria retains a rich cultural heritage and a deep tradition of hospitality, craftsmanship, music, and storytelling.

Region: Asia

Literary Context

Syrian literature has a long history rooted in Arabic poetry, oral storytelling, and the intellectual traditions of the Levant. Modern Syrian writers have explored love, exile, political oppression, social change, and the tension between personal freedom and collective identity. Poetry has played a particularly important role, with writers experimenting with modern forms while drawing on classical Arabic literary heritage. In recent decades, the Syrian uprising, civil war, and mass displacement have profoundly shaped literature, bringing themes of memory, loss, survival, and the meaning of home to the forefront. Among Syria’s most prominent writers is Nizar Qabbani, one of the Arab world’s best-known poets, celebrated for his lyrical writing about love, desire, and political resistance. Adonis, born Ali Ahmad Said Esber, became an influential modernist poet whose work challenged literary conventions and explored cultural renewal. Khaled Khalifa, author of Death Is Hard Work, portrayed the human consequences of violence and authoritarianism. Rosa Yassin Hassan has written about repression, gender, and social life in Syria, while Samar Yazbek, whose works include A Woman in the Crossfire, has documented the experiences of Syrians living through conflict. Together, these writers illuminate Syria’s complex cultural identity and the enduring power of literature to preserve memory and bear witness to history.