Rachid Benzine's 'The Bookseller of Gaza' Review: Literature Amid Ruins

Rachid Benzine, a Moroccan-French writer and political scientist, has published a novel titled 'Der Buchhändler von Gaza' (The Bookseller of Gaza), which explores the human and political conditions between Israelis and Palestinians from a Palestinian perspective. The 124-page book, translated from French by Andreas Jandl and published by Piper Verlag in Munich, was written before October 7, 2023, and reflects the realities of Gaza City prior to that date. The novel is set in 2014 and follows photo journalist Julien Desmanges, who encounters an elderly man named Nabil Al Jaber, a bookseller who reads amidst ruins and gives books to visitors. The narrative spans from the Nakba to the present, highlighting themes of displacement, resilience, and the power of literature. Benzine, born in Morocco in 1971 and raised in Versailles, has won multiple awards, including the Grand Prix du Roman Métis in 2024 for his migration novel 'Les silences des pères'. The book has been praised for its lyrical elements despite the harsh reality it depicts, and it includes references to André Malraux's 'La Condition Humaine'. The novel is available in hardcover (128 pages, ISBN 978-3492074575) and as an e-book.