A New York Times Book Review Editors' Choice
A teacher, a scholar, a philosopher, and an eyewitness to history, Sari Nusseibeh is one of our most urgent and articulate authorities on the conflict in the Middle East. From his time teaching side by side with Israelis at the Hebrew University through his appointment by Yasir Arafat to administer the Arab Jerusalem, he has held fast to the principles of freedom and equality for all, and his story dramatizes the consequences of war, partition, and terrorism as few other books have done. Once Upon a Country brings rare depth and compassion to the story of his country.
Industry Reviews
"One of the best personal accounts of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict ever written . . . A fascinating and deeply intelligent memoir." --Ethan Bronner, The New York Times"There are villains and victims, patriots and fools, war and peace, betrayal and corruption, and an inevitable romance. . . . The book dramatizes recent history in Palestine as few others have done." --Amos Elon, The New York Review of Books"Terrific . . . highly recommended for those who want to appreciate the dilemma of the Palestinian democrat." --Christopher Hitchens, Slate"A deeply admirable book by a deeply admirable man." --Leon Wieseltier, The New York Times Book Review"Once Upon a Country is an often enthralling book, with a lucid unfolding of the issues and subtle analysis of the games played by both sides. . . . This complicated man--shrewd, idealist, pragmatic, dreamer, peaceful warrior---is very much worth knowing." --Charles Matthews, San Francisco Chronicle"Captivating . . . Once Upon a Country is a magnificent study of hope under siege." --Robert Malley, The Washington Post"A bighearted, admirable, and exceptionally interesting account of Nusseibeh's struggle for an equitable peace in a conflict in which compromise is often interpreted as treason. This is a rare book." --Jeffrey Goldberg, Los Angeles Times"Once Upon a Country is a subtle, sad, and humorous memoir that casts a fresh light on the Israeli-Palestinian tragedy and a vivid picture of Palestinian society as well." --Amos Oz, author of A Tale of Love and Darkness One of the best personal accounts of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict ever written . . . A fascinating and deeply intelligent memoir. "Ethan Bronner, The New York Times" There are villains and victims, patriots and fools, war and peace, betrayal and corruption, and an inevitable romance. . . . The book dramatizes recent history in Palestine as few others have done. "Amos Elon, The New York Review of Books" Terrific . . . highly recommended for those who want to appreciate the dilemma of the Palestinian democrat. "Christopher Hitchens, Slate" A deeply admirable book by a deeply admirable man. "Leon Wieseltier, The New York Times Book Review" "Once Upon a Country "is an often enthralling book, with a lucid unfolding of the issues and subtle analysis of the games played by both sides. . . . This complicated man--shrewd, idealist, pragmatic, dreamer, peaceful warrior---is very much worth knowing. "Charles Matthews, San Francisco Chronicle" Captivating . . . "Once Upon a Country" is a magnificent study of hope under siege. "Robert Malley, The Washington Post" A bighearted, admirable, and exceptionally interesting account of Nusseibeh's struggle for an equitable peace in a conflict in which compromise is often interpreted as treason. This is a rare book. "Jeffrey Goldberg, Los Angeles Times" "Once Upon a Country" is a subtle, sad, and humorous memoir that casts a fresh light on the Israeli-Palestinian tragedy and a vivid picture of Palestinian society as well. "Amos Oz, author of A Tale of Love and Darkness"" "One of the best personal accounts of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict ever written . . . A fascinating and deeply intelligent memoir."--Ethan Bronner, "The New York Times""There are villains and victims, patriots and fools, war and peace, betrayal and corruption, and an inevitable romance. . . . The book dramatizes recent history in Palestine as few others have done."--Amos Elon, "The New York Review of Books""Terrific . . . highly recommended for those who want to appreciate the dilemma of the Palestinian democrat."--Christopher Hitchens, "Slate""A deeply admirable book by a deeply admirable man."--Leon Wieseltier, "The New York Times Book Review"""Once Upon a Country "is an often enthralling book, with a lucid unfolding of the issues and subtle analysis of the games played by both sides. . . . This complicated man--shrewd, idealist, pragmatic, dreamer, peaceful warrior---is very much worth knowing."--Charles Matthews, "San Francisco"" Chronicle""Captivating . . . "Once Upon a Country" is a magnificent study of hope under siege."--Robert Malley, "The Washington Post""A bighearted, admirable, and exceptionally interesting account of Nusseibeh's struggle for an equitable peace in a conflict in which compromise is often interpreted as treason. This is a rare book."--Jeffrey Goldberg, "Los Angeles"" Times"""Once Upon a Country" is a subtle, sad, and humorous memoir that casts a fresh light on the Israeli-Palestinian tragedy and a vivid picture of Palestinian society as well."--Amos Oz, author of "A Tale of Love and Darkness" "One of the best personal accounts of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict ever written . . . A fascinating and deeply intelligent memoir."--Ethan Bronner, "The New York Times ""There are villains and victims, patriots and fools, war and peace, betrayal and corruption, and an inevitable romance. . . . The book dramatizes recent history in Palestine as few others have done."--Amos Elon, "The New York Review of Books ""Terrific . . . highly recommended for those who want to appreciate the dilemma of the Palestinian democrat."--Christopher Hitchens, "Slate ""A deeply admirable book by a deeply admirable man."--Leon Wieseltier, "The New York Times Book Review """Once Upon a Country "is an often enthralling book, with a lucid unfolding of the issues and subtle analysis of the games played by both sides. . . . This complicated man--shrewd, idealist, pragmatic, dreamer, peaceful warrior---is very much worth knowing."--Charles Matthews, "San Francisco"" Chronicle ""Captivating . . . "Once Upon a Country" is a magnificent study of hope under siege."--Robert Malley, "The Washington Post ""A bighearted, admirable, and exceptionally interesting account of Nusseibeh's struggle for an equitable peace in a conflict in which compromise is often interpreted as treason. This is a rare book."--Jeffrey Goldberg, "Los Angeles"" Times """Once Upon a Country" is a subtle, sad, and humorous memoir that casts a fresh light on the Israeli-Palestinian tragedy and a vivid picture of Palestinian society as well."--Amos Oz, author of "A Tale of Love and Darkness" "This is the story of how Sari Nusseibeh, committed all his life to Palestinian national liberation, committed himself also to Palestinian-Israeli peace. Modestly told, but wonderfully engaging, it is a tale of political independence and moral courage."& nbsp; & nbsp; --Professor Michael Walzer, Institute of Advanced Study, author of Politics and Passion: Toward a More Egalitarian Liberalism "Sari Nusseibeh is a man of enormous personal integrity, courage and vision. If the people of Israel and Palestine some day enjoy the peace and national sovereignty that they deserve, they will owe a lot to Sari Nusseibeh ' s pioneering leadership." -- Paul Wolfowitz " Once Upon a Country is a subtle, sad, and humorous memoir that casts a fresh light on the Israeli-Palestinian tragedy, and a vivid picture of Palestinian society as well." -- Amos Oz, author of A Tale of Love and Darkness "From the first elegant sentence, Sari Nusseibeh uses his poetic sensibility to illuminate the dislocation, oppression, fratricide, and extremism that have plagued his ' violated and broken land. ' In his honest and unsparing account of a remarkable life, this courageous advocate for peace makes clear why this tragic conflict is so enduring, and a resolution so essential." -- Richard North Patterson, author of Exile "This is a compelling narrative of a life lived at the cross-roads of history, which is also a moving personal story of an individual of rare integrity whocreates a political vision that is both true and useful. It is difficult to find the ' middle ground ' in the Middle East conflict, but Sari Nusseibeh opens up a space for reflection and dialogue that balances the cunning of history with the irony of one man ' s adventures and aspirations. AS he confronts his own complex circumstances, Nusseibeh reveals a landscape of hope, generosity and justice that makes this a crucial text of our times." -- Homi K. Bhabha, Anne F. Rothenberg Professor of English and American Literature and Language Director, Harvard University "This is the story of how Sari Nusseibeh, committed all his life to Palestinian national liberation, committed himself also to Palestinian-Israeli peace. Modestly told, but wonderfully engaging, it is a tale of political independence and moral courage." --Professor Michael Walzer, Institute of Advanced Study, author of "Politics and Passion: Toward a More Egalitarian Liberalism ""Sari Nusseibeh is a man of enormous personal integrity, courage and vision. If the people of Israel and Palestine some day enjoy the peace and national sovereignty that they deserve, they will owe a lot to Sari Nusseibeh' s pioneering leadership."-- Paul Wolfowitz ""Once Upon a Country" is a subtle, sad, and humorous memoir that casts a fresh light on the Israeli-Palestinian tragedy, and a vivid picture of Palestinian society as well."-- Amos Oz, author of "A Tale of Love and Darkness ""From the first elegant sentence, Sari Nusseibeh uses his poetic sensibility to illuminate the dislocation, oppression, fratricide, and extremism that have plagued his ' violated and broken land.' In his honest and unsparing account of a remarkable life, this courageous advocate for peace makes clear why this tragic conflict is so enduring, and a resolution so essential."-- Richard North Patterson, author of "Exile ""This is a compelling narrative of a life lived at the cross-roads of history, which is also a moving personal story of an individual of rare integrity who creates a political vision that is both true and useful. It is difficult to find the ' middle ground' in the Middle East conflict, but Sari Nusseibeh opens up a space for reflection anddialogue that balances the cunning of history with the irony of one man' s adventures and aspirations. AS he confronts his own complex circumstances, Nusseibeh reveals a landscape of hope, generosity and justice that makes this a crucial text of our times."-- Homi K. Bhabha, Anne F. Rothenberg Professor of English and American Literature and Language Director, Harvard University "Sari Nusseibeh's "Once Upon A Country" is a subtle, sad and humorous memoir which casts a fresh light on the Israeli-Palestinian tragedy as well as a vivid picture of Palestinian society." --Amos Oz, author of "A Tale of Love and Darkness" and other books "This is a compelling narrative of a life lived at the cross-roads of history, which is also a moving personal story of an individual of rare integrity who creates a political vision that is both true and useful. It is difficult to find the "middle ground" in the Middle East conflict, but Sari Nusseibeh opens up a space for reflection and dialogue that balances the cunning of history with the irony of one man's adventures and aspirations. As he confronts his own complex circumstances, Nusseibeh reveals a landscape of hope, generosity and justice that makes this a crucial text of our times." --Homi K. Bhabha, Harvard University, author of "The Location of Culture"
