Ghada Samman’s first full-length novel, originally published in Arabic in 1974, is a creative and daring work prophetically depicting the social and political causes of the Lebanese civil war in 1975. The story opens in a taxi in which we meet the five central characters, each seeking something to give life meaning: security, fame, wealth, dignity, recognition, freedom from fear and from tradition-sanctioned, dehumanizing practices. Once they reach the capital city of Beirut, on which they’ve pinned their hopes, they all discover, man and woman alike, that they are victims of forces either partially or completely beyond their control, such as political corruption, class discrimination, economic and sexual exploitation, destruction of the natural environment, and blind allegiance to tradition.

Beirut ’75 addresses struggles of Arab society, particularly the Lebanese, but the message is one of the universal human condition. Thus, in addition to this superb English-language presentation, Samman’s novel has already appeared in German (two editions), French, and Italian versions.

Winner of The University of Arkansas Press Award for Arabic Literature in Translation.

Ghada Samman is Lebanese, was born in Damascus, Syria, and currently lives in Paris, France, with her husband, Bashir. She was educated in English literature at Damascus University and the American University in Beirut. She now owns her own publishing company. Ms. Samman has written a total of twenty-eight books in a variety of genres and has been translated into nine languages.

Nancy Roberts is an English instructor at Al al-Bayt University. Educated in the United States in Arabic language and literuatre, she currently makes her home in Mafraq, Jordan.