Those Places

Mahmoud Shukair

Each of us has their own story. And stories themselves have stories. Our movements are connected to the considerations of time and place, to the historical moment, and to the freedom or lack thereof available at the time. In Jerusalem, and between leaving and returning to it, Mahmoud Shukair experienced a great deal: the city and its transformations, the enthusiasm and frustrations of his generation, the dreams of liberation and the defeats of reality. And he wrote a lot. In this autobiography, Shukair continues his literary narrative about the general, starting from the particular: his moving from one city to another, his involvement in politics, his children and the joy of his grandchildren. He sheds light on the details and turning points of his life, with his customary captivating simplicity, allowing us to see beyond the details the larger picture: the dynamics of Palestinian and Arab culture, and the political and social challenges. Shukair tells his story, but, as usual, we read behind it the story of the city and its people.